Junior LB already major prospect

Despite being just a rising junior, Compton (Calif.) Dominguez' Maurice Simmons is already one of the top linebackers in the state. The all-state athlete comes from a family of talented linebackers and the younger Simmons could be as talented as any of them.

There has already been three Simmons brothers who made it to the high Div I level and Maurice is a lock to be the fourth. Melvin 'Champ' Simmons signed out of high school with Washington State and transferred to USC. Marvin recently finished up his career at Kansas State and Marlin was set to be a sophomore at Cal this year but had to quit football for medical reasons.

At 6-1, 200 pounds, Simmons has the frame to play linebacker or even safety in college. In fact, it sounds like safety is his desired position at the next level.

"I think that will be my best position in college," Simmons said. "I'm working hard to get my 40 time down in the low 4.5s or high 4.4s and my shuttle times have been dropping as well. My goal right now is to be the best safety in the country at next year's NIKE Camps."

Simmons will play linebacker this season, the position he dominated at as a junior and earned all-CIF and all-state underclass honors. The athlete had a team high 103 tackles to go with nine sacks.

"He's a monster," Dons coach Keith Donnerson said. "He's just a great football player, one of the best we've had here and by the time he's a senior, he could be the best linebacker we've ever had."

Colleges are already taking notice and expect several early offers to flood in for Simmons.

"Coach Donnerson tells me all the time that a different school just called him about offering me," Simmons said. "I have about five verbal offers right now but nothing in writing. Mississippi seems really interested right now and is probably recruiting me the hardest. Ryan Nielsen played with my brother at USC and he's the one recruiting me. I've called Coach Orgeron before and he told me they were interesting in offering me and I should expect something in the mail in September.

"Right now, I'm leaning heavily towards USC, Notre Dame and Ole Miss. I want to follow in Champs footsteps and be a team captain at USC someday like he was. In the Pac 10, I also like UCLA, Oregon and Arizona State. Academically, I'm carrying a 3,0 GPA and I'm studying heavily for the SAT. I will definitely pass it the first time I take it."