Simmons checks out Rebels and Bulldogs

College coaches are already well aware of 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end Jeffery Simmons, and they are making their presence known in Macon (Miss.) at Noxubee County High School.

Offers have arrived from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Memphis, Arkansas State, Jackson State, and Alcorn State. Recruiting is off to a fast start and Simmons is enjoying it right now.

"Well right now it's going pretty well," Simmons said. "The main two schools that I'm talking to the most are Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Everything has been going pretty well with the coaches there. I've been going to games and I've been enjoying both schools."

Simmons has already taken a few opportunities to check out Ole Miss during the 2014 season.

"I went to when they played Memphis, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Alabama, and the atmosphere was pretty cool," Simmons said. "I got to know some of the players. When I go to games I watch the defense mostly at first and how they play."

He has not yet had a chance to experience the Grove, but he plans to experience it this weekend as the Rebels host the Tennessee Volunteers. While he has not experienced the Grove, he has been able to take in the game day atmosphere in Oxford, and one thing stands above the rest.

"Like most people tell me people up there are prejudice but I don't really see it because every time I go no matter what race it is they're all good to me," Simmons said. "I just don't see it."

Simmons's most recent visit was to Starkville to check out the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

"It was pretty cool. This past weekend I went up there to watch them play Auburn," Simmons said. "Most think Mississippi State isn't supposed to win and are surprised but I knew this could be State's year. State, they're hungry for it this year."

Simmons is also looking into visits to Memphis and Arkansas, and he receives information almost daily from Notre Dame, Purdue, Florida State, and Tennessee.

He is not currently focused on the recruiting process, and he plans to take his time. However, he does have an idea about a few important factors in his decision.

"I want to leave it open right now and on down the line whatever I'm going to school for and I want to go to a school with a good team but I also go to a school where they have the best sports medicine," Simmons said.

Right now his focus is on Noxubee County and leading the way for strong Tigers' squad.

"This year I think we've started off kind of slow. We lost against Starkville and after that game I realized I'm going to have to be a captain," Simmons said. The head coach, coach Shorter, was just telling me I could be a big leader because a lot of the guys look up to me. I took that in and I've just been being a leader and playing hard. Like right now I think I'm leading the team in tackles and sacks and I have seven touchdowns this year right behind our wide receivers. I've grown a lot from last year. I think I got a lot better at defensive and offensive-wise. They have me playing both sides of the ball."

This week Simmons and Noxubee County travel to West Lauderdale for a Friday night match-up.