MACON — Great defensive players always make sure all angles are covered.
Whether it’s from the left, right, or middle, the Noxubee County High School senior defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons has found a way to wreak havoc on offensive players of all shapes and sizes for the past three seasons.
His challenge Monday morning had nothing to do with stopping a running back or sacking a quarterback. This one meant he had to represent his community, his school, and his team in style, so he had to make sure he took the time to look good.
But one question vexed him: Black or yellow?
Simmons didn’t know which color jersey he was going to receive Monday when the announcement was made that he had been selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. That’s why Simmons planned to have both bases covered with a light blue and yellow bow tie, a shirt that had blue, red, green, and white in it, and yellow pants that went well with both colors. When Simmons received his black No. 16 16 jersey, it was easy to tell he had made the right fashion choices.
“The colors stand out and I put something together,” Simmons said. “I knew the colors of the U.S. Army were black and yellow, so I just picked yellow.”
Simmons smiled and said no when asked if his mother or his sister helped him with his wardrobe choices. That also shouldn’t have been surprising considering Simmons is one of the most dominating defensive linemen in the state of Mississippi and is capable of handling the selection of the right tie just as adroitly as he is of tracking down an opponent from behind.
Last season, Simmons, The Dispatch’s Large Schools Defensive Player of the Year, was second on the team in tackles (107) and earned Class 4A All-State honors. He played an integral role in helping to lead the Tigers to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A state title, the school’s second championship in three years.
This season, Simmons and the Tigers started out on a mission. Victories against Starkville and Columbus had Noxubee County flying high, but a four-game losing streak slowed the team’s progress. In the third game of that skid, a 21-6 loss to West Point, Simmons injured his ankle. The injury forced him to miss four games, including Noxubee County’s first three Class 4A, Region 4 games. But Simmons said Monday he hopes to be back at 7 p.m. Friday when his team will play host to Caledonia.
Despite missing four games, Simmons, a member of The Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen, which recognizes the state’s top players, is second on the team in solo tackles (48), overall tackles (64), first in tackles for loss (10 1/2), ad first in sacks (10). He also had blocked two punts, blocked a field goal, caused two fumbles, deflected three passes, and recovered one fumble.
Simmons’ exploits have earned him a spot with 90 of the nation’s top football players. The game, which will feature the East vs. the West, will be broadcast live at noon on NBC.
“Jeffery has demonstrated versatility and adaptability both on and off the football field,” said Mark S. Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing, in a statement. “It is these skills — skills we instill in every Army soldier — that have guided our selection of all of the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl players. We are pleased to welcome these talented athletes to this year’s elite team and we congratulate each of them on their selection.”
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee, which consists of All American Games, 247Sports and XOS Digital, selected Simmons. U.S. Army All-Americans are eligible for the U.S. Army Player of the Year Award, the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year Award, the American Family Insurance Defensive Player of the Year Award, the Pete Dawkins Game MVP Award, and the Felix “Doc” Blanchard and Glenn Davis Awards.
In addition to Simmons playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Noxubee County football coach Tyrone Shorter was invited to travel to San Antonio to attend the U.S. Army Coaches Academy, an elite three-day learning experience, and participate in Bowl Week activities.
Shorter said the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee couldn’t have picked a better representative from his team to play in the game. While Shorter said he has a team filled with All-Americans, he said he has enjoyed watching Simmons grow from being a ball boy and a manager on the football team to one of its best players.
“He deserves everything he is getting because of his humbleness,” Shorter said. “He is respectful. He has done everything right. He has worked hard on and off the field and worked hard in the classroom. He did everything right, and he deserves this. I am so proud of him for getting all of this.
“To have a person like that get this honor, who put everybody else first and who talked about his team, his community, and his family and has yet to talk about himself, that is the guy I have known for the past seven or right years. It is an honor to coach him. It is an honor to be part of his life.”
Simmons will have to wait to see which number he gets to wear for the game. If he has a say, it’s likely that he will pick No. 94, the number he wears for Noxubee County High. In addition to looking good in charcoal gray or light blue and red, the primary colors in two of the Tigers’ uniforms, Simmons showed Monday he looks good in black and yellow. He gave all praise to God for giving him the skills it takes to play football.
“The tie and the shirt came separately. I just put them together and figured they would go together,” Simmons said. “I think I look pretty good (with the black jersey on). It feels good.”
More importantly, the love for the game of football and the passion Simmons brings to the field makes him look great in any colors. He feels that drive helped him be selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
“I just go hard,” Simmons said. “However you work in the offseason is how you are going to put on in the regular season. I worked pretty hard this summer, and I feel like it is paying off now.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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.
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.
