When a football player doesn’t clearly belong at one position, it’s common for evaluators to label him a “tweener.” That is not usually a compliment. Maybe he’s too slow to be a linebacker but too thin to be a defensive end, or too short to be an outside cornerback but not quick enough to fill in as a nickel.
Whether Shayne Simon’s a DB or LB, he’s a star. Notre Dame and Michigan want him.
Versatility and ball-hawking are Simon’s strengths.
SB Nation
Shayne Simon’s not a tweener. He’s just good enough to be a star at either outside linebacker or safety, and it’ll be up to some fortunate college team to figure out the best landing spot. Simon is slated to commit soon, and while a handful of schools are nominally in the race, there are two to watch: Notre Dame and Michigan. The Irish are the 247Sports Crystal Ball favorite, with Michigan next and on the radar.
Simon is the No. 134 player in the class of 2018 and its No. 6 outside linebacker, according to 247’s Composite rankings. He comes from Jersey City, N.J., and plays his high school ball at St. Peter’s Prep.
I’ve only watched Simon in person at The Opening Finals, a three-day showcase for elite recruits held on Nike’s campus in Oregon about a month ago. Simon was a star in seven-on-seven play, showing an elite ability to break on the ball and disrupt passing routes. There’s no full-on tackling at these events, but Simon showed the agility to corral fast skill players. At around 6’3 and 215 pounds, he’s already in great playing shape, but he’ll get bigger if he winds up playing at linebacker.
The best defenders in college football’s spread offense-driven era are those who can move laterally, tackle, and break to defend the pass. Check, check, and check. Simon’s going to be a star for whichever team he chooses, wherever it puts him.
