Eighth-grade Tennessee QB nabs offer from Harbaugh, Michigan

As the son of UT-Martin head coach Jason Simpson, Class of 2022 Martin (Tenn.) Westview quarterback Ty Simpson is used to interacting with college coaches. But even he was surprised when a blind text message started the path that led to him picking up his first scholarship offer from Michigan earlier this month.

"I was scrolling through my dad's phone and I saw all these college coaches and I asked if we could send them my film," the younger Simpson said. "My dad had recently talked to Jim Harbaugh because he was trying to help one of his graduate assistants get a job so his number was in there. We sent him my film and within five minutes he answered back."

Harbaugh was so impressed with Simpson's film that it quickly led to the Simpson family setting up an unofficial visit to Michigan.

"I didn’t know what to expect because I’ve never been to a Big 10 school before but it was a cool environment." Simpson said. "We got a chance to tour all the facilities and I met with Pep Hamilton. At the end Coach Harbaugh called me and my family into his office and he’s joking around and stuff but then he told me that I was one of the first 2022 prospects they were looking at and that they wanted to be my first offer. He said they love being first and we all had a good time. It was just really cool."

Simpson said he went into the trip just hoping to experience a big-time college campus and maybe meet some of the coaches. The fact that he came away with an offer was quite the pleasant surprise.

"It meant everything, with Michigan’s traditions and the Big House and everything," Simpson said. "The background of the staff with their NFL ties and the knowledge there that the staff has just makes me feel pretty awesome because they think I’m good enough in the eighth grade to be offered in the highest level of college football. It gives me a little spark to know I can conquer my dreams. Coming from Coach Harbaugh that just means the world."

Simpson grew up rooting for Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Mississippi State, mainly because of family connections to the respective programs. While he plans on keeping his options open with several years left ahead in his recruitment, he added that the Wolverines made quite the first impression.

"As an eighth grader from a small town in Tennessee I didn't know what to expect," Simpson said. "Now that I have an offer from Michigan I'm going to keep in touch and hopefully get back up for another visit soon. They will be down here for a satellite camp in the summer, too."

Simpson is spending his offseason playing with J3M Select, the 7-on-7 team sponsored by former five-star Tennessee wide receiver Josh Malone. Simpson's strong play recently saw him elevated to the top team, where he throws to 2019 Rivals100 wide receivers Trey Knox and Lance Wilhoite and plays with several other highly ranked players.

"That's pretty exciting for me to get to play with those guys," Simpson said. "We don't have a lot of guys like that around here so to get to throw to guys like that who will help me get better and make me look good is great."

In the coming months Simpson said he plans on participating in several camps, with Georgia, Missouri and several others on his list.