Arizona State Football head coach Kenny Dillingham has truly proven to be a standup coach, showing constant support for any of his former players moving on to new opportunities.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The bulk of Dillingham’s encouragement over the last month has come due to the transfer portal, hyping up former Sun Devils looking for new schools. As the winter window has passed, closing entrance into the portal until the spring, ASU’s head coach can vouch for his departed athletes chasing something bigger than a new university: The NFL Draft.
Arizona State first team All-American Cam Skattebo cleared his path as a sure pick in the 2025 NFL Draft following his Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl performance, but his college teammates in pursuit of the same goal may have more challenging paths and need to prove themselves over the next several months. One of those individuals is graduate student defensive back Shamari Simmons.
Simmons made one of the biggest plays in the quarterfinals of the college football playoffs, making his way to the backfield for a forced fumble turned safety, that started ASU’s strong push at an attempt to take down Texas. Two days after the loss, he declared for the NFL Draft.
SHAMARI SIMMONS WITH THE BOOOOOOM ????#ForksUp /// @ShamariKeshaun pic.twitter.com/ih2Dlqgs2s
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) January 1, 2025
Simmons didn’t appear in the Peach Bowl until the third quarter due to receiving a targeting call in the second half of ASU’s Big 12 Championship victory over Iowa State. He wasted no time making his presence felt with his big hit for a safety.
That play made Simmons a household name (at least for the night). After declaring for the draft, Simmons took to X on Monday, posting his career stats and proclaiming himself as the “most underrated DB prospect in the 2025 draft.” Dillingham quoted the tweet with a single-word statement: “Agree!!!!!”
Agree!!!!!! https://t.co/DGEvOQzICq
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) January 14, 2025
His instant impact was no surprise, as he’s been one of Arizona State’s best defensemen since transferring in 2023 from Division I FCS program Austin Peay.
After spending two seasons with the Governors, earning an all-conference selection in 2022, Simmons made his way to The Valley as one of Dillingham’s first transfers in January 2023. In his inaugural season as a Sun Devil, the draft hopeful recorded 73 tackles, seven pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a sack. He grabbed his only interception in a 15-7 loss to Washington, who would go on to lose to Michigan in the College Football National Championship that year.
ATTENZIONE PICKPOCKET, ATTENZIONE PICKPOCKET!!!
Shamari Simmons with the second pick of the night for the Sun Devils!
???? FS1#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/aoQch3JShE
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) October 22, 2023
Simmons returned to Arizona State for his final year this season, mimicking the previous year. In 2024, he compiled 72 tackles, five deflections and an interception. His forced fumble against the Longhorns was his last of four on the year.
Prior to Arizona State, Simmons totaled 113 tackles, seven interceptions, 21 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and forced a fumble. He finished his college career with 258 tackles, nine interceptions, nine interceptions, five force fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 33 deflections in four seasons.
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Reporter Jordyn Bennett covers the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State, Phoenix area sports and sports related topics. You can follow him on his X account, @j_bennett_live
