Penn State Football: Shane Simmons needs a big 2019 season
Penn State football needs a big performance from redshirt junior
A coveted member of the 2016 recruiting class, Shane Simmons has had a bit of a slow start to his Penn State career. The Nittany Lions head into the 2019 season with a top defense and a stacked depth chart at defensive line. Simmons will have to battle in the offseason to nail down a starting job, but even so, he’ll have an opportunity to finally live up to his potential.
Simmons was the No. 41 overall prospect in the 2016 recruiting class and was rated as a four-star recruit according to 247Sports. The Hyattsville, MD product was a standout at powerhouse DeMatha Catholic and was the top prospect coming out of Maryland in 2016.
He had most of the top schools interested in landing him, including Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State. In the end, his college decision essentially came down to Penn State and Florida State before ultimately deciding to join the Nittany Lions.
After being given a red shirt and sitting out the 2016 season, Simmons saw his first action during the 2017 season. He played in all 13 games that season. He made 15 total tackles, including a sack. After the season, he was named an All-Freshman Team honorable mention by the Big Ten Network.
In 2018, Simmons once again factored into the defensive line rotation, but appeared in just eight games, making nine tackles.
Standing at six-foot-three and weighing 250 pounds, Simmons has the size to be an effective defensive end. He also possesses great potential that has yet to be realized. Entering his third season on the field, Simmons needs to start living up to the hype that followed him out of high school.
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He’ll likely start the season behind Shaka Toney on the depth chart, but should at least have an opportunity to play a key reserve role and start to make the most of his opportunities.