2018 Football Roster
Roster
Jeffery Simmons
- Position:
- DT
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 300
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Macon, MS
- High School/Previous School:
- Noxubee County HS
2018 Bednarik Award Semifinalist
2018 Conerly Trophy Winner (top player in Mississippi)
2018 Second-Team All-American (The Athletic)
2018 Third-Team All-American (AP)
2018 Fourth-Team All-American (Phil Steele)
2018 First-Team All-SEC (AP, Coaches)
2018 ESPN All-Bowl Team
2018 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Ole Miss)
2017 First-Team All-SEC (AP, Coaches, PFF)
2017 Bednarik Award Semifinalist
2017 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. LA Tech, LSU)
2017 SEC Academic Honor Roll
2016 SEC All-Freshman Team (Coaches)
2016 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
CAREER: An All-American who was one of the best defensive players in the nation and in MSU history during his three years with the program … Provided tremendous leadership as a starter at defensive tackle … Despite being double-teamed constantly, showed incredible power to shake off blocks with great quickness … Teamed with Montez Sweat to form one of the best defensive line duos in the nation and in school history during the 2017 and 2018 seasons … Named a Bednarik Award Semifinalist in both 2017 and 2018 (one of just two players to make the list both seasons) … Played in 38 games with 28 starts … Totaled 163 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, seven pass breakups, five forced fumbles and three blocked kicks … Owns two defensive touchdowns … In MSU career history, finished ranked sixth in tackles for loss (32.5), tied for sixth in forced fumbles (5) and tied for fourth in blocked kicks (3) … Racked up 86 total pressures, 12 quarterback hits and 62 hurries according to Pro Football Focus … Selected to NFL.com’s most freakish college football athletes in June 2018 … Can bench over 450 pounds, squat over 600 pounds and carries just 15 percent body fat at 300 pounds … Underwent a minor procedure to his shoulder following the 2017 season … A two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll with over a 3.0 cumulative GPA … Produced a 4.0 GPA the same fall he earned Freshman All-SEC … Along with Gerri Green, was MSU’s team leader in community service … Visited schools throughout the Golden Triangle, including several during the spring and summer on his own accord … Visited Camp Rising Sun, Earl Nash Elementary and Fifth Street School in West Point to give motivational support to kids before spring testing.
2018 JUNIOR SEASON: Despite drawing double teams play after play, still found ways to be disruptive and make his way into backfields … Was a candidate for virtually every national defensive player of the year award on defense … Teamed with Montez Sweat on the SEC Coaches and Associated Press All-SEC First Team for the second straight season (first pair of Bulldogs to ever accomplish that feat) and formed one of the nation’s best defensive line duos … Earned second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press and The Athletic and fourth-team status from Phil Steele … Named the winner of the 23rd annual C Spire Conerly Trophy by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum … Picked up SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week acclaim (vs. Ole Miss) … Started 12 of 13 games played … Led the team and ranked fourth in the SEC in tackles for loss (17) … Ranked third in the SEC and second among defensive linemen in tackles for loss per game (1.3) … Finished with 63 total tackles and added a pair of sacks … His 17 tackles for loss were the third-most in single-season school history … Also forced a fumble and defended four passes … Closed the season with the No. 4 overall grade (91.6) and No. 3 run-defense grade (93.2) among defensive interior linemen, according to Pro Football Focus … Recorded 34 total pressures, seven quarterback hits, 23 hurries and 34 stops according to PFF … One of only five defensive interior linemen in the SEC with 20+ hurries … His 34 pressures were the fourth-most in the SEC among defensive interior linemen … Missed only five tackles according to PFF … Tied for second in the SEC among defensive linemen in total tackles (63) … Ranked third in the SEC among defensive linemen in tackles in conference games (45) … Committed only three penalties, including just one over the last nine games … Collected two or more tackles for loss in six different games and had at least one in nine contests … Opened the season with four tackles, including a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss against Stephen F. Austin (9/1) … Followed up the next week with four total tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss at Kansas State (9/8) … Collected six tackles, including two tackles for loss, at Kentucky (9/22) … Made one tackle for loss as part of five total tackles against No. 8 Auburn (10/6) … Followed up with a career-high 10 tackles, including one for lost yardage at No. 5 LSU (10/20) … Fended off double teams and made his way into the backfield throughout the day with six tackles and two tackles for loss at No. 1 Alabama (11/10) … In his final game at Davis Wade Stadium, racked up seven tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup … Helped the Bulldogs bring the Golden Egg back to Starkville with four tackles, including two for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup against Ole Miss (11/22) … Named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts … Also earned a 93.6 overall grade from PFF … In his final game at MSU, finished with four tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and a sack in the Outback Bowl vs. Iowa (1/1) … Over the first three plays of the game, recorded a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss … Recorded a season-high five total pressures, including a pair of quarterback hits … Earned a spot on ESPN’s All-Bowl team for his performance … Competed in the State Farm All-Star Football Challenge in Dallas following the season’s end.
2017 SOPHOMORE SEASON: Joined Montez Sweat on the SEC Coaches and Associated Press All-SEC First Team … Started all 13 games and shined … Became the first SEC player since 2004 to lead the nation in blocked punts/kicks with three … Ranked 11th in the SEC in tackles for loss with 12 despite being double-teamed … A two-time recipient of the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Kentucky, Texas A&M) … Recorded five sacks, 41 quarterback pressures and maintained a 3.1 GPA in the fall … Recovered two fumbles and forced two as well … Became the first Bulldog since 2009 to register two touchdowns in a game, providing the highlight of the year when he skied into the air to block a punt and recover it for a touchdown at Louisiana Tech (9/9) … Added a recovered fumble in which he returned it 90 yards for a score at LA Tech in addition to a blocked field goal … Dominated against No. 11 LSU (9/16), recording seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks … Had six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack at No. 13 Auburn (9/30) … Racked up a career-best eight tackles against UMass (11/3) with one tackle for loss … Collected 1.5 tackles for loss against No. 1 Alabama (11/11) … Two tackles for loss at Arkansas (11/18) … A constant in the backfield in the TaxSlayer Bowl, pressuring Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson nine times and recording one tackle for loss.
2016 TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in 12 games with three starts at defensive tackle … One of two true freshmen defenders on the squad to see action … Starts came against Kentucky, Texas A&M and in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Miami (Ohio) … Finished with 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries … Led all SEC freshman and tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with two … Became the first MSU defensive lineman to earn Freshman All-SEC honors since Chris Jones (now with Kansas City Chiefs) in 2013 … Made his collegiate debut against South Carolina (9/10) and had an immediate impact with four tackles, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble … Produced a season-high six tackles at Kentucky (10/22) and made a key forced fumble in the fourth quarter that led to a Mark McLaurin fumble recovery touchdown … Jarred the ball lose and put MSU back in the game against the Wildcats … Also collected six tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss against Arkansas (11/19).
HIGH SCHOOL: Dominant, blue-chip five-star defensive line prospect … The No. 1 player in the state of Mississippi … Considered the nation’s No. 10 overall player and No. 2 defensive end by Scout.com … A five-star prospect according to Rivals.com and Scout.com … A four-star prospect by 247Sports.com and ESPN.com … The top-rated player in the state of Mississippi by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Game … Competed in the 29th annual Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game … Key player on Noxubee County squad that won its second straight MHSAA Class 4A state championship and went 12-4 overall … Led the Tigers with 20.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries, three blocked field goals and two blocked punts as a senior … Also forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles, broke up five passes and recorded an interception … Finished second on the team in tackles (105) and solo tackles (88) despite missing four games … Tallied 3.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries in the state championship game against St. Stanislaus High School … Earned five-star rating after 2015 season-opener against Starkville High School where he totaled 17 tackles, five sacks, five hurries, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal … Coached by Tyrone Shorter.
PERSONAL: Born Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr. on July 28, 1997, in Lasalle, La. … Mother is Brenda … Has one brother, Dylan, and two sisters – Brooke and Ashley … Lists J.J. Watt as his favorite NFL player … Majoring in human development and family studies … Twitter handle is @GrindSimmons94.
SIMMONS’ CAREER HIGHS:
Tackles: 10, at LSU (10-20-18)
Tackles For Loss: 3.5, vs. Stephen F. Austin (9-1-18)
Sacks: 1.5, vs. LSU (9-16-17)
Forced Fumbles: 1 (five times), last at Ole Miss (11-22-18)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 (twice), last vs. Ole Miss (11-23-17)
Pass Breakups: 1 (seven times), last at Ole Miss (11-22-18)
![Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) punts during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Fmsstate.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F1%2F1%2FUSATSI_27828199.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
