Interview: Defensive Line is the Focus for 4-Star 2021 Two-Way Standout Josh Simmons

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Part of the job as a college football coach is guessing where a rising high school talent will fit within a scheme and how a certain body type will fill out over time excelling at said position on the roster, but sometimes that comes without consideration for the heart, soul, and mindset of the player. With Class of 2021 standout Josh Simmons, coaches are torn between seeing him as a collegiate offensive lineman moving the line of scrimmage forward at will or as a dominating presence in the box stopping the run and putting the fear of God in quarterbacks. For the 6-6.5, 275-pound, four-star recruit, he sees his future on defense.

With 30-plus offers in hand and a move from San Diego’s Madison High School to Helix completed, Simmons is preparing for his senior season ready to show coaches across the country his determination on defense can be the difference maker for their program for years to come.

*Click link for April 11, 2020, RNG interview with Josh Simmons

Interview

Josh, we are getting closer and closer to what should be the start of offseason team workouts for high school programs. Every high school football player in the country has been waiting for this to happen. How has the departure from our normal football everyday activities helped push your love for the game forward?

“The time away from the normal routine shows me how much I love football. It has exposed somethings. I have looked back and realized my role as an offensive lineman; I feel like it was something I was there for the time being to help my team win games. This time away due to the virus has showed me my love for playing along the defensive line. I grew up playing as a defensive lineman. When they were needing bodies at Madison on the offensive line I did it, but this time has showed me what I love about football. I love getting in the backfield getting after the quarterback, not just being a shield man on offense for a quarterback.”

We spoke a few weeks back catching up then on what all you’ve been working on this offseason. Let’s begin with your workouts on defense, what have you been working on this spring?

“Cutting the baby fat to be more explosive and quicker. I want to be a freak athlete that dominates offenses with my physicality, quickness, and long arms. This spring I have been getting in the weight room making sure I am ready. It has been a while and I am fired up; I am ready to hit someone straight in the face this fall if they are ready or not. I have been working on my hand movements, quick twitch work, and my footwork.”

A second ago, you brought up working with your hands, what moves have you been working on as a defensive lineman?

“Definitely trying use the long arm move. I have heard from my teammates that because I have long arms it is hard to block me. Using that rushing the edge along with working on the push-pull and swim move, especially against bigger offensive linemen.”

Offense is not your focus, but what have you been working on with that part of your game?

“Blocking is easy. I have worked on my kick-step going back, but it is not that hard. With offense, it has been more about weight training and pushing the same weight around this spring.”

Sticking with that, what has been your daily workout routine?

“To stay fit, I run about a mile on the treadmill and then I do squats, four sets of 15 at 275. Then I bench four sets of 225 and then I curls; I put 35 on each side to burn out four times. After that, I stretch. At night, I do 200 pushups and 200 sit ups.”

What are your maxes in the weight room now?

“My squat went up to 430, and benching 225, rep-ing that out, is very easy for me now; I am around 390 max on bench.”

When we spoke last your 40 was ridiculous, at a 4.9. Have you run another 40-yard dash since then?

“Yes, I ran a 4.7. I never knew I could run that fast. That was shocking.”

Before I ask it, I think I know the answer to this next question, but I will ask it any way. What is your favorite position to play?

“My favorite position is weakside or strongside defensive end. Playing end, you are getting that one-on-one matchup with the offensive tackle. Knowing how offensive linemen work, I use that to my advantage. I can tell when they are going to fake punch. When they step back, that is when you hit them and their weight is off-balance and they go straight to the ground.”

With recruiting, which schools are showing interest?

“Kentucky, Clemson showing a little interest, and Alabama.”

How many offers do you have now?

“I have 31 offers.”

**West Virginia offered after this interview (32)

Which programs were the last few to offer?

“Syracuse, Fresno State, Arkansas, and Arizona State.”

Simmons’ Offer Sheet (32): Alabama A&M, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Boise State, Colorado, Duke, Fresno State, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, San Diego State, San Jose State, Syracuse, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Utah, Utah State, Washington, Washington State, and West Virginia

Given your recruiting status, everyone wants to know about the visits you may take. Do you have any planned visits scheduled?

“No. I will wait and see where everything is at once the campuses open back up.”

Understood. When you are on a call with a college coach, what makes up a good meeting for you? What are you interested in learning about and/or hearing about?

“The brotherhood. You can tell the energy of a coach when he expresses the program to you and how he will take care of you. You can tell when they are going to take care of you. Being honest, that is another thing. There are those coaches that just say this that or the other but when you get there you are thrown where they need you; that is the quickest way into the transfer portal. If they are honest with me, that way I can save their time and my time. 100 percent honest is important to me. Lies or manipulating athletes is a turn off.”

Last question, what goal(s) have you set for the rest of the summer?

“Working on myself and trying to get better. I feel that I have missed a whole season. This summer, I want to go to a few camps as a defensive lineman and dominate. I want to show off what I can do against top offensive linemen at these camps so people can see what they missed last season.”

Josh, it is always great talking to you. I appreciate your time and wish you success with the rest of your workouts this summer until we talk again.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Simmons family; Josh Simmons