Isaiah Simmons

Isaiah Simmons (born July 26, 1998) is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was drafted by the Cardinals eighth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. While at Clemson, Simmons was noted for his positional versatility as he played at linebacker, defensive end, cornerback, and safety.

Isaiah Simmons
Simmons as a high schooler, 2016
No. 48 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:Linebacker
Strong safety
Personal information
Born: (1998-07-26) July 26, 1998
Omaha, Nebraska
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school:Olathe North (Olathe, Kansas)
College:Clemson
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2020
Tackles:54
Sacks:2
Interceptions:1
Pass deflections:2
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Isaiah Simmons was born in Omaha, Nebraska on July 26, 1998.[1][2] He later attended Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kansas, playing defensive back and wide receiver. He committed to Clemson University in February 2016.[3]

College career

Simmons redshirted his first year at Clemson in 2016. As a safety in 2017, he played in 14 games, recording 49 tackles and one sack.[4] In 2018, he converted to linebacker.[5] In 15 games, Simmons had 97 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception.[6][7] He returned to Clemson in 2019 rather than enter the 2019 NFL Draft.[8] Simmons received the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker for his performance that year.[9] After graduating in December 2019 with a degree in sports communication, Simmons announced that he would forgo his senior year by declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft.[10][11] During his time at Clemson, Simmons was noted for his positional versatility, taking snaps at linebacker, defensive end, cornerback, and safety.[12][13]

Statistics
Year Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
CombTotalAstSck PDefIntYdsAvgLngTD FFFR
2016 – 1100 000000 00
2017 14 4527181 600000 10
2018 15 8955341.5 612727271 30
2019 15 10467377 834214220 11
Career 44 239150899.5 2046920.5271 51

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size40-yard dashVertical jumpBroad jump
6 ft 3 5⁄8 in
(1.92 m)		 238 lb
(108 kg)		 33 3⁄8 in
(0.85 m)		 9 5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.39 s39 in
(0.99 m)		11 ft 0 in
(3.35 m)
All values from NFL Combine[14]

Simmons participated in the 2020 NFL Combine, leading all linebackers with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash.[15] He was one of 58 players invited to the 2020 NFL Draft, which was held virtually due to social distancing regulations arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, where he was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the eighth overall pick.[16][17]

Despite playing only five snaps in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, Simmons recorded his first career interception off Russell Wilson with a minute left in overtime, helping the Cardinals win 37–34.[18]

References
  1. Keepfer, Scott. "'He can do anything': Clemson's Isaiah Simmons is one of NFL Draft's most coveted players". Greenville News. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  2. "Isaiah Simmons – Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site". ClemsonTigers.com. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  3. Gier, Kathleen (February 2, 2016). "Olathe North football player Isaiah Simmons commits to Clemson". The Kansas City Star. McClatchy. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  4. Louis-Jacques, Marcel (August 28, 2018). "Clemson Football: Players, coaches agree, 'watch out' for Isaiah Simmons this season". The Anderson Independent-Mail. Gannett. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  5. Raynor, Grace (August 24, 2018). "For Clemson's Isaiah Simmons, switching from safety to linebacker was right move". The Post and Courier. Evening Post Industries. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  6. Raynor, Grace (January 4, 2019). "The unlikely success story of Clemson's Isaiah Simmons, the Tigers' leading tackler". The Post and Courier. Evening Post Industries. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  7. Raynor, Grace (July 9, 2019). "From footraces to pass breakups: How speedy Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons is exceeding expectations". The Athletic. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  8. Connolly, Matt (January 14, 2019). "Clemson's leading tackler passing on NFL draft, returning to school". The State. McClatchy. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  9. Lentz, Zach (December 9, 2019). "Simmons Wins 2019 Butkus Award". Clemson Maven. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  10. Boynton, Eric. "Clemson All-American Isaiah Simmons makes departure official". GoUpState.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  11. "Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons declares for 2020 NFL draft". ESPN.com. January 19, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  12. Domowitch, Paul. "Clemson's Isaiah Simmons can play anywhere on the field, and that's more of an asset in today's NFL". Inquirer.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  13. Kelly, Danny. "Isaiah Simmons Is the Do-Everything NFL Defender of the Future". The Ringer. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  14. "Isaiah Simmons Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  15. Reuter, Chad. "2020 NFL Scouting Combine winners/losers: Isaiah Simmons!". NFL.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  16. Around The NFL staff. "58 prospects to virtually participate in NFL draft". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  17. Gordon, Grant (April 23, 2020). "Cardinals select LB Isaiah Simmons with No. 8 pick". NFL.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  18. Zimmerman, Kevin (October 26, 2020). "Cardinals LB Isaiah Simmons breaks seal, seals Sunday win vs. Seahawks". Arizona Sports. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
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