Jeffery Simmons didn’t realize during his time at Noxubee County High School that the football field house never had a name.
Broken treadmills and bent weights sat inside the building, although the lack of resources never stopped the Tigers. During Simmons’ four years at the school from 2012 to 2015, Noxubee County went 51-9, winning three state titles.
“We didn’t make excuses,” Simmons said. “We had to get it out (of) the mud. No matter what type of equipment we’ve got, no matter what we have, we’re going to make the best of it.”
But beginning with the 2020 season, Noxubee County’s field house has had a new name and a new look. Simmons and his entourage fixed it up, applying paint and providing several new weight racks. The building was christened the Jeffery B. Simmons Field House and will be officially dedicated July 8.
“I’m excited to see how far we can keep it going,” Simmons said Wednesday. “Hopefully we can keep actually building on it, try to make it a little bigger.”
That growth — both as a servant of the community and as a professional football player — was the focus of Wednesday’s Sports Talk event for the Boys & Girls Club of the Golden Triangle, held at the Bryan Building at Mississippi State.
“It is home for me, especially here on this campus,” Simmons said. “I love this university.”
NFL career on the rise
Simmons spent three seasons with the Bulldogs before being selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans.
He said Wednesday making the leap to the NFL wasn’t as difficult as he anticipated. In October 2019, when he returned from a torn ACL suffered while training for the draft, Simmons knew he was ready.
“I can play with these guys,” he realized.
Simmons has backed up his words in two-plus seasons in the league. He made a tackle for loss on his very first snap and recorded a sack later in the game. Simmons made the Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro in 2021 after recording 8.5 sacks.
He said he hopes to help get the Titans, who made the AFC championship game in his first season, over the hump — whatever that takes.
It makes sense from a player like Simmons, who has always given that kind of effort regardless of the level.
“I’m competitive,” Simmons said. “No matter if we’re losing by 40 in the fourth quarter with two minutes left, you’re going to see me going 100 miles per hour.”
Simmons said he’s dealt with failure and hasn’t always handled it well. He said he beat himself up after Noxubee County’s rare losses, wishing he could have made more plays to change the outcome.
“Once you have that feeling, you’re not going to want to feel it again,” Simmons said.
He’s tried to use that to fuel the players in his summer football camps, which are held annually at the Starkville Sportsplex. This year’s event will be set for July 8-9 and will again feature some of Simmons’ former high school coaches and his MSU teammates now in the NFL.
“I think that’s my biggest goal: to keep having an impact on these young kids’ lives,” Simmons said.
Keeping up with MSU
The former Bulldogs standout said he’s done his best to keep up with his old school while in the professional ranks — and not just on the gridiron.
Simmons wished new head women’s basketball coach Sam Purcell luck, calling himself a big fan of the sport. Of course, he’s a big fan of the Mississippi State football team, too — Simmons often visits Starkville and talks to players when he returns.
“I take a lot of pride in just supporting our team, especially on that level,” Simmons said. Players see that.”
He recalled building a culture within the MSU football program centered on “relentless effort.” Those who fold easily were not welcome.
“We don’t need anyone who’s going to quit when times get rough,” Simmons said. “What type of teammate are you when stuff gets hard? I think once you find and get rid of those front-runners, that’s how you build your team.”
Simmons said current coach Mike Leach has done well at that, though Simmons said he hoped for more victories so Titans teammates will stop razzing him after losses, including defeats by Memphis and Ole Miss.
“I think he’s been doing a hell of a job here at Mississippi State, and I just pray and hope this year will be way better than last year,” Simmons said of Leach. “I’m excited to see how he can take this team and school to the next level.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 31 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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