CHARLOTTE, NC -- One of the top inside linebackers in the country made an appearance at the Charlotte Nike Football Training Camp at Ardrey Kell High School last Saturday, as Virginia Beach (Virg.) inside linebacker Jahvoni Simmons went through drills.
No. 2 ILB Jahvoni Simmons is wide open
A number of upcoming visits could shape his recruitment.
The 6’1, 225-pounder is a consensus four-star prospect ranked as the No. 2 inside linebacker nationally and the No. 4 player in the state of Virginia, as well as the No. 98 player overall, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
With offers from Alabama, Clemson, Illinois, Miami, Michigan State, NC State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, Simmons has plenty of options.
He doesn’t, however, have a top five or any schools standing out at this time, but wants to narrow his list down before the start of his senior season, with a decision likely after his last fall of high school football, though he said it could happen midseason.
A strong relationship with the NC State coaching staff is standing out to him at this time after a recent visit.
“I love coach Barlow and coach Huxtable, the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach,” Simmons said. “He thinks pretty highly of me and I love the defense, his 4-3 scheme, and how he utilizes his linebackers.”
The other recent visit for Simmons was to Clemson and once again it was a coach who came to mind when asked about the trip, as the Ocean Lakes product is a big fan of defensive coordinator Brent Venables, citing his history of developing Butkus Award winners.
Not surprisingly, Simmons said that the relationship with the coaching staff he will choose will be key to his recruitment.
As for the spring and summer, he doesn’t have any visits set yet, but wants to trip to Alabama, Clemson, Pitt, Ohio State, and Tennessee, which should make for a busy next few months for the highly-regarded linebacker.
With Ohio State coming after him pretty hard, the Buckeyes are a school that is definitely on his radar, but Simmons once again reiterated that he’s interested in all the programs that are recruiting him.
Education will be a key factor in his decision in addition to his relationship with the coaching staff, an area where Virginia is standing out to him, which helps explain why the Cavaliers are currently the leader in his 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions.
