One on One with Isaiah Simmons
Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Simmons made an impact during his first active season in 2017 after being redshirted in 2016. During his redshirt year, Simmons participated in the long jump with the Clemson track & field team in the spring. Before Clemson, Simmons was first-team all-state on both sides of the ball. The Olathe, Kansas native had 92 tackles on defense and had 29 receptions for 994 yards of and 13 touchdowns and averaged 34.3 yards per reception.
This season, Simmons is accredited with seven tackles in each of the team’s first two contests against Furman and Texas A&M, five tackles, including one for a loss against Georgia Southern, a season-high of nine tackles, including one for a loss against Syracuse, two tackles at Wake Forest, and a career-high of 12 tackles vs. NC State.
Q – Being from Kansas, what made you want to come all the way to Clemson?
Simmons – One of the biggest reasons was that I didn’t want to play in the cold anymore and when I was going through all my options it just seemed like the best fit for me and my future.
Q – During the NC State game, you lead the team with a career-high of 12 tackles. How were you feeling in that game?
Simmons – I thought that I had a lot of tackles, like 7, but I didn’t know that I had 12. When somebody told me that I had 12, I was like “Woah”. There were some tackles that I could have made that I didn’t make, so like I said earlier, I am always finding ways where I can do better and I and Kendall Joseph have been in competition all year on who will have the most tackles.
Q – Saturday, you and the team were able to hand Florida State its worst home loss. How did that feel for you and the team?
Simmons – So lately it seems that the teams have kinda been throwing shade at us, like before we play them. We really don’t understand why; I feel like we should get a little more respect. They were just in the way, we were ready to just move along and get past them.
Q – In what ways would you say that you have improved since last year?
Simmons – I would definitely say that I am mentally stronger in the game as well as technically.
Q – Christian still makes it known to us that he still wants a shot at the QB position. With you being as talented as you are on both sides of the ball, is there any position that you would like a shot at?
Simmons – See at the Florida State game, I asked them if I could go and get a goalball, I just wanted to go in and get a snap. They were like “Nah, Nah, we’re going to let other people go in and get it.”
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