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Arizona State safety Shamari Simmons has had quite the path in college football.
He started at a Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College, worked his way up to FCS Austin Peay, then rounded it out with two years playing for the Sun Devils.
Now he’s in Dallas preparing for Thursday night’s East-West Shrine game to be held at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The event draws scouts from the NFL and is a lead-up to the NFL draft. So it is an opportunity for athletes to increase their draft stock.
The game will air at 6 p.m. on the NFL Network.
Simmons had a stellar week in practice. In fact, he was named one of the 10 most impressive players during the week-long practice schedule.
Simmons started 42 games at the Division I level, 25 of those in his two seasons in Tempe. He was the Sun Devils team MVP in 2023 and was named Defensive MVP this season.
During Shrine Bowl week festivities Simmons told Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot that ASU assistant coach Hines Ward has been instrumental in preparing him for the NFL draft process. Ward may coach receivers but imparted some of his knowledge on what it takes to get ready for the next level.
“He was just a great person to be around, just down to Earth,” Simmons said. “And just being around him. I asked him a lot of questions, just what it’s like in the NFL. What I need to be prepared for. He’s just being straightforward, straight up and down with me. Really just helping me throughout this journey.”
Simmons, a 6-foot, 195-pounder, totaled 73 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, four breakups, four quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and an interception the past season in helping the Sun Devils to an 11-3 showing that included a Big 12 championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff in the Peach Bowl.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/arizona-state-football-star-safety-204016937.html
Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
Publish date : 2025-01-30 20:40:00
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