Re: Hill Watch...142 days!!!

CBProf®

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142 - Willie Simmons Completed 142 Passes for Clemson in 2002

Apr 11, 2024, 12:05 AM

Willie Simmons (aka Shotgun Willie) came to Clemson as a highly-rated QB. After sitting behind Woodrow Dantzler for two seasons, he was ready to make his mark as the starter in 2002. Sometimes things do not always happen as planned.

At Clemson:

According to Sports-Reference.com, Willie Simmons registered the following stats at Clemson:

2000:
- 36 Completions for 616 Yards
- 7 Touchdown Passes

2001:
- 19 Completions for 235 Yards
- 1 Touchdown Pass

2002:
- 142 Completions for 1,559 Yards
- 6 Touchdown Passes
- 1 Rushing Touchdown

Clemson Career (2000-2002):
- 197 Completions for 2,410 Yards
- 14 Touchdown Passes
- 1 Rushing Touchdown

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/willie-simmons-1.html

After Clemson:

Simmons lost his starting job, however, after 8 games in the 2002 season. According to GoUpstate.com:

“Quarterback Willie Simmons announced Thursday he will transfer from Clemson and spend his final season trying to become an NFL player by starting at a smaller school.

Simmons, who started the first eight games in 2002, had lost his starting position to Charlie Whitehurst. Clemson could not guarantee Simmons the playing time he wanted to showcase his skills for the NFL.”

https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2003/05/02/simmons-decides-to-leave-clemson/29668193007/

He eventually signed with Florida A&M before FAMU decided to become FCS. That change would mean Simmons would have to wait a year to play. The NCC allowed him, therefore, to transfer to the Citadel where he played in 2003.

According to Wikipedia:

After Simmons' college career, he played one season of arena football in the United Indoor Football League for the Sioux City Bandits, where he played alongside future NFL running back Fred Jackson.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Simmons_(American_football)

Staying on the game he loved, Simmons then turned to coaching. Also according to Wikipedia:

“Simmons began his coaching career in 2005 at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida, where he coached the quarterbacks and was also the pass game coordinator. There, he had the opportunity to coach former NFL and South Florida Bulls quarterback B.J. Daniels. After one season, he was brought back to his alma mater Clemson as a graduate assistant coach, working with the quarterbacks.

Middle Tennessee State

After one season at Clemson, Simmons was offered the position of running backs coach at Middle Tennessee State by head coach Rick Stockstill, who recruited Simmons to Clemson. Entering the 2010 season, after three seasons as the running backs coach, Simmons was promoted to Pass Game Coordinator. The following season, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. At the age of 30, he was one of the youngest coordinators at the FBS level. During his time as offensive coordinator, the Blue Raiders were ranked 20th nationally in total offense, while leading the Sun Belt Conference in total offense, rushing offense, and third-down conversion percentage, and ranking second in passing offense.

Alcorn State

Simmons accepted a position on newly hired Jay Hopson's staff at Alcorn State in the summer of 2012. They inherited a program that had only won 2 games the previous season. Starting a true freshman quarterback and without spring practice, the Braves finished with a 4–7 record.”
…
Prairie View A&M
On December 16, 2014, Simmons was named the 32nd head football coach at Prairie View A&M University.
…
Florida A&M
On December 12, 2017, Simmons was named the 18th head football coach at Florida A&M University. The storied Rattlers program had fallen on tough times, as it was fresh off a seven-year losing streak. In his first season at the helm, Simmons led FAMU to a second-place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, finishing one win away from winning its first MEAC championship since 2011.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Simmons_(American_football)

Simmons has been nothing short of fantastic as a head coach! GODuke.com described his accomplishments as head coach at FAMU:

While in Tallahassee, Simmons helped the Rattlers to a 45-13 (.776) overall record and a 34-5 (.872) mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play. Under Simmons’ guidance, FAMU registered four-straight nine-win seasons, including a 12-1 overall ledger and undefeated season in SWAC action last season. Additionally, Simmons led the Rattlers to two HBCU National Championships (2019 & 2023) and their first SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl title in 2023.

Simmons received consecutive AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year honors (2022 & 2023) and was tabbed the 2023 SWAC Coach of the Year. The Rattlers finished with four-straight top-25 rankings, including last season when they posted a No. 5 rank in the final FCS poll, to register their highest national ranking since 1998 and their first ten-win season since 1999.

https://goduke.com/staff-directory/willie-simmons/1150

The same GoDuke article, Simmons joined the Duke coaching staff this offseason. He will be on the sidelines for Duke starting in 2024:

Willie Simmons joined the Blue Devil gridiron program in January 2024, and serves as an assistant coach, working primarily with the Duke running backs.

https://goduke.com/staff-directory/willie-simmons/1150

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Clemson: Academic Excellence! Athletic Excellence!

Ricky Sapp was a highly-rated recruit when he chose Clemson. According to Wikipedia, “He chose Clemson over Florida State, Georgia, N.C. State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech. Sapp was Clemson's first All-American defensive lineman commit since 1989.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Sapp

Clemson fans are glad he made such an excellent college choice!

At Clemson:

According to Sports-Reference.com, Sapp registered the following stats at Clemson:

2006:
- 18 Tackles (6 Solo and 12 Assisted)

2007:
- 44 Tackles (24 Solo and 20 Assisted)

2008:
- 25 Tackles (12 Solo and 13 Assisted)

2007:
- 55 Tackles (28 Solo and 27 Assisted)

Clemson Career (2006-2009):
- 142 Tackles (70 Solo and 72 Assisted)

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/willie-simmons-1.html

After Clemson:

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Ricky Sapp with the 134th Pick (5th Round) of the 2010 NFL Draft. After suffering an injury in 2010, he was released by the Eagles. He then signed with the NY Jets practice squad before being released. The Jets then resigned him.

Sapp played five NFL seasons for the NY Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Houston Texans.

After the NFL, Sapp has remained connected to football, ultimately returning to God’s Country. According to the Pearce Center page on Clemson.edu:

“After retiring from the NFL, Sapp had the opportunity to speak to a high school football team and soon was offered a volunteer coaching position. After much convincing, he accepted the position. To his surprise, working at that school would unveil his purpose in life. Sapp fell in love with working with students. Following his passion, he went on to work as a substitute and high school ISS teacher. While it was hard for him to leave his students, he is thrilled to be back at Clemson.

Returning Clemson, the part-time motivational speaker works under Coach Batson for Clemson Football strength and conditioning. “I’m home,” said Sapp when asked how it feels to be back in the Upstate.”

https://pearce.caah.clemson.edu/tiger-tales-ricky-sapp/

Welcome Home, Ricky Sapp! Welcome Home!

Thanks to TigerNet for this picture:

Update: My apologies for including the picture of Willie Simmons in the write-up on Sapp. (Too many senior moments these days.)

Message was edited by: CBProf®

Hill Watch...142 days!!!