South Carolina defensive line coach Travian Robertson offered DT Darrius Simmons (6-3 306) of Cairo, GA in late January, and last Saturday he had Simmons on campus for the first time. The Gamecocks were holding a spring practice so Simmons got a good look at Robertson and the defensive front in action.
“I went to the defensive line meeting and got a couple of pointers on pass rush and stuff like that,” Simmons said. “Then we went out to the field and I got a chance to talk to a couple of the players. I was with the defensive line most of the day and watched them practice.”
Simmons is a load in the middle of his team’s defensive front and recorded 56 tackles with five sacks last season. He said Robertson sees him as a perfect fit for what he likes to do with his defensive tackles.
“He said he wants people with my kind of body type in the interior of the D-line,” Simmons said. “I love the scheme. It’s the same thing my high school runs. It will be second nature for me. How they run things, I love it. I love the enthusiasm he has for the game.”
South Carolina currently is the only Power 4 offer for Simmons, and his first visit there left him with a positive impression of the program.
“They are definitely going to be a top school in my decision,” Simmons said adding that he plans to return to USC for a camp this summer. He has not set an official visit with the Gamecocks as of yet.
This spring Simmons has also visited South Alabama and Troy. He will visit Western Kentucky this weekend and Cincinnati April 18th. He has set official visits with Troy and Memphis and plans to set one with Cincinnati.
Among his other offers are Arkansas State, USF, South Alabama, FAU, FIU, Western Michigan and Eastern Kentucky.