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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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) Â
Pass Breakups: 1 (seven times), last at Ole Miss (11-22-18)
