CLARION’S JIMMY SIMMONS NAMED FB GAZETTE ALL-AMERICAN

Clarion junior defensive tackle Jimmy Simmons (Huntland, Tennessee) was recently honored by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette by being named as an Honorable Mention All-America selection on the defensive line.

Simmons, a 6’2", 245-pound, junior defensive tackle from Huntland, Tennessee, had an amazing year on the defensive line. Simmons totaled 70 tackles, ranked #2 in the NCAA with 27 tfl’s (-100 yards), led the PSAC and NCAA in solo tfl’s with 21, recovered and caused a fumble. His season was very consistent including 10 tackles and 5 tfl’s against Edinboro, along with 3 tfl’s against Tiffin, Slippery Rock, Lock Haven and California. Simmons had 23 tackles and 8 tfl’s in the 2005 season. He is a Rehab Science major and is the son of James and Pam Simmons.

CLARION NOTES: Simmons All-America honor gives Clarion 80 All-Americans in the past 24 seasons ... Simmons and offensive tackle Zack Snyder were first team FB Gazette honorees earlier this year ... Linebacker Matt Morris was a second team All-Region choice and corner back Dwaon Woodard and tight end Matt Foradora were third team All-Region selections... Simmon and Woodard were first team PSAC-West selections in 2006, while Morris, Foradora and Snyder were named to the second team... Clarion finished its first season under new head coach Jay Foster … The Golden Eagles were 1-10 overall, but the Eagles played some very good games. Clarion led #2 ranked Bloomsburg 10-7, #7 ranked IUP 7-6 and Ship 3-0 at halftime before losing those games… Clarion also was within 3 points at half to SR and Kutztown, and pulled to within 21-14 of #6 ranked Cal in the fourth quarter before bowing in those games.