Penn State Football 2019 Breakout Candidate: DE Shane Simmons

Redshirt junior ready to break out for Penn State in 2019 

Penn State has seen strong, consistent play from its defensive line over the past few seasons, as head coach James Franklin and defensive line coach Sean Spencer have worked hard to recruit the best talent possible. Each year it seems a new name emerges as a star for the unit, known as the “Wild Dogs.” 2019 is shaping up to be the year of Shane Simmons.

A bit of a forgotten name thanks to how well Franklin has recruited the defensive line recently, it wasn’t that long ago that Simmons was a major get for the Nittany Lions on the recruiting front. He’s had a bit of a slow start to his collegiate career, but now in year four with the program, he’s primed to turn into a very familiar name.

Simmons, hailing from Maryland high school powerhouse DeMatha Catholic,  was part of Penn State’s 2016 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as a four-star recruit, and the No. 4 defensive end. Overall, he was ranked No. 41 nationally among all available players.

He held offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Florida State, Maryland, Notre Dame, Miami, and Wisconsin, among others.

Franklin decided to redshirt Simmons in 2016 in order to give him an extra year to develop. Injuries decimated the Penn State defense that season, and Simmons likely could have been inserted into the lineup, but the coaching staff decided to not burn a year of his eligibility.

Penn State has been blessed with talent on the defensive line, so Simmons had just limited opportunities through his first two seasons of action with the Nittany Lions. For his career, he’s recorded 24 total tackles including a sack.

Big, strong, and athletic, Simmons’ six-foot-three, 250-pound frame fits the perfect mold for a defensive end. He has all tools to be an elite player when given a full opportunity .

With former defensive end Shareef Miller off to the NFL, Simmons will be given the chance to shine in 2019. He should enter camp as the starter and will pair with Yetur Gross-Matos on the other end to make a formidable duo on the edge for Penn State.

Just because it’s been a slow start for Simmons doesn’t mean the talent isn’t there. With three years of experience under his belt now, look for Simmons to make a major jump in production this year and be a star for Penn State’s defense.