Big offers flowing in for Simmons

After some outstanding camp performances, recruitment has really picked up for sophomore Shane Simmons. The sophomore defensive end from Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha has added almost double-digit offer over the last week.

"The first one that came in yesterday was Alabama," said the 6-foot-3, 224-pound Simmons. "I talked to coach Thompson on the phone. He sees me as a middle linebacker once I get bigger. I will have to work at it but I think I can play anywhere. It would make me kind of a cool threat player.

"At the end of the day I got offered by Penn State," he said. "They said they're really excited for me and have been watching me for a long time.

"My coach told me later that Ohio State offered me also," Simmons said. "I was really excited because it's a great school and a great program."

Late last week Wisconsin, Miami, Wake Forest and Clemson offered Simmons.

"I know that two Dematha players are committed to Wisconsin," he said. "They are always wearing Wisconsin stuff and always talking about it so that piqued my interest a lot. I'm excited about the offer because I go to school with a lot of players with potential to be top players and I want to go to a school where we can win a national championship.

"My friend Sunny goes to Miami," Simmons said. "He and I worked out with Lavar Arrington. I like the Hurricanes a lot. I've only talked to the coaches down there once. They really want me to come down and look at their campus. Im going to Florida State this summer so I will be trying to visit Miami while I'm down there.

"I haven't talked to Wake Forest much but Ive watched them on TV," he said. "They had a good season. They're another school with potential like me. The academics are great there also.

"Clemson is a great school," said Simmons. "I grew up around Clemson so I'm a fan of there program. I'm really excited that they are taking a interest in me. I used to live in Charleston."

Simmons has a long standing friendship with new teammate J.P. Urquidez and the two have planned some summer visits together starting in the middle of June.

"I'm going to Texas and Texas A&M with JP," he said. "I'm helping him move up here so we'll be going to Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Auburn, Alabama and LSU. We're probably going to the same school.

"Coach Thompson was asking about JP also to see if he will be visiting with me," Simmons said. "He got really excited when I told him he was so hopefully JP can show them what he's got."

Simmons was one of the top performers at the Washington D.C. edition of the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour.