5 things to know about Isaiah Simmons, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft
Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons is a versatile, defensive hybrid who received considerable hype leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft.
Recently, NFL reporter Ian Rapoport referred to him as not just a “wild card,” but one of the biggest wild cards of the entire draft. Rapoport’s comments came after Simmons made a bold claim during an interview with NFL Network: “You only get 53 on a roster. I feel like if you draft me, you get 56.”
Here are five things to know about Simmons, who was selected with the No. 8 pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night:
1. In addition to being a phenomenal football talent, Simmons was also a champion long jumper during his junior and senior years of high school.
2. He was a safety before moving to linebacker. In 2017, Simmons transitioned from the deep safety position to the starting nickle/Sam linebacker position for Clemson, though that wasn’t a “defined role.” Simmons told NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones that he’s “most comfortable at weakside linebacker.” Simmons said he doesn’t have a favorite position on the field. “I don’t really have a favorite role,” he said at the combine. “I like getting interceptions as much as I like getting sacks.”
3. For a man his size (6 feet, 4 inches, 238 pounds), Simmons’ unofficial time of 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine left insiders speechless.
4. His stats are off the charts. When he finished his Clemson career, he had 253 tackles (28.5 for loss,) 10.5 sacks, 22 pass breakups, four interceptions, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 1,856 snaps over 44 games.
5. He was the first Clemson player to win the Butkus Award in its 35-year history. He was also the sixth unanimous All-American, a Bednarik Award finalist and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.