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YOUR BALANCE
Anthony Simmons
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Anthony Simmons


Jun 23, 2018, 12:52 AM

Don’t see his name mentioned much on TigerNet. Where does he rank amongst top defensive players all-time in Tigers history? I am biased and grew up in the ‘90’s, but definitely top 10, borderline top 5?

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Re: Anthony Simmons


Jun 23, 2018, 2:54 AM

Pound-for-pound, he’s gotta be in the Top 5. He was a shining star during the dark ages of the 90s, so he didn’t get much publicity nationally, but he was one of— if not the best—linebackers in the country during his time here. He also went on to have a very solid NFL career at another program that was on a downswing in Seattle. Fast, instinctive, and fearless.

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I will never forget his first game when he jumped OVER a


Jun 23, 2018, 9:57 PM

fullback to nail the tailback in the back field.

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Easily top 2 LBs ever at Clemson.


Jun 23, 2018, 8:24 AM

Honestly, he may have been the most dominant. Seems like he was in on every play, always disrupting, right from the start as a freshman. I would have no problem ranking him #1.

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"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
- H. L. Mencken


Clear #1 LB


Jun 23, 2018, 9:06 AM

I'd say #1 LB with no reservations. He's #2 at Clemson in total tackles over his career, and he did it in 3 years; whereas the rest in the top 8 accumulated their tackles over 4 years. He was 3-time All-ACC. He was drafted in the 1st round and ran a 4.28 40, which may be the fastest LB 40 time ever.

Unfortunately, he played for Tommy West so I think we all kind of forget a little about the great players that were a part of those teams.

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Re: Clear #1 LB


Jun 23, 2018, 10:33 AM

4.38 by the LB from UCF this year is the fastest since they started keeping records at NFL combine in around 2003...http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/0ap3000000919319/Shaquem-Griffin-runs-blazing-4-38-40-yard-dash-fastest-by-LB-since-2003

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Re: Anthony Simmons


Jun 23, 2018, 9:15 AM

Would be right up there at LB. Levon Kirkland would have to be in the discussion.

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Re: Anthony Simmons


Jun 23, 2018, 9:21 AM

He was the best high school player that I have ever seen play in person. Ahead of bobby engram and Nelson Welch on my list of hs players...

Probably the best Clemson LB that I have seen...

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Absolutely agree


Jun 23, 2018, 9:29 AM

As far as LB’s go, he #2 behind Leroy Hill, but maybe not. (People forget about Hill too.)

As for being an all that me great? I’d put Simmons at being in the top 10. I got DW, Terry Allen, Vic Beasley, Brian Dawkins, and Nuk Hopkins as my top 5. Then the Fridge, Sammy Watkins, CJ, Anthony Simmons, and Leroy Hill.

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Why do you think Leroy Hill was better than Simmons?***


Jun 23, 2018, 10:24 AM



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"All those 'Fire Brownell' guys can kiss it." -Joseph Girard III

"Everybody needs to know that Coach Brownell is arguably the best coach to come through Clemson." -PJ Hall


Simmons was better than Hill, however...


Jun 23, 2018, 10:34 AM

Hill worked real hard with less talent to be a very productive linebacker and received recognition. Anthony Simmons was the God made mold for a linebacker with his speed and smarts. From first game as a freshman you could see separation from all the other players. He was fun to watch and he came to us when FSU was getting all the studs. My favorite as you can probably tell.

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I'd have Simmons 1 and Jeff Davis 2.***


Jun 23, 2018, 5:55 PM [ in reply to Absolutely agree ]



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nothing against leroy hill but he wasn't even in the same


Jun 23, 2018, 6:17 PM [ in reply to Absolutely agree ]

League. He was that much better. His supporting cast wasn't as good as hill's either.

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Cj Spiller doesn't make your top 5 players? ??***


Jun 23, 2018, 10:19 PM [ in reply to Absolutely agree ]



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Reason being...


Jun 23, 2018, 11:28 AM

probably not many folks on here under 35 years old remember him, or know of him.
Might have been the hardest working defender I have ever seen.


defintely top 3 LBs ever, at Clemson along with Adams and Kirkland.
#21

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Not sure how you can rate LBs and


Jun 23, 2018, 5:31 PM

not have Jeff Davis high up on that list. He was amazing and a big part of our first natty.

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Re: Not sure how you can rate LBs and


Jun 23, 2018, 8:16 PM

Yep not to mention his name is on the stadium facade. But don’t let that get in the way of all these other opinions on here.

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Re: Anthony Simmons


Jun 23, 2018, 1:53 PM

Simmons was as good as any that came through Clemson. Keith Adam's was perhaps the best 5'10in linebacker ever to play in the ACC. West had some individual studs on defense, but Simmons was the best.

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Leaving it up to Tim Bourret


Jun 23, 2018, 6:44 PM

https://theclemsoninsider.com/2014/06/09/who-are-the-best-linebackers-in-clemson-history/

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my favorite single player to watch ever.


Jun 23, 2018, 6:14 PM

This guy could wreak havoc on offenses like nobody else. He could blitx the a gap like a cobra. Once he was within 3 feet of the ball carrier, say goodnight.

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Re: Anthony Simmons


Jun 23, 2018, 8:04 PM

I loved watching Simmons close the gap on any ball carrier. He was fast and smart and he made tackles on sweeps and screens that just didn’t seem possible at the start of the play. He was so much better than anyone else around him in the era that he played. Very grateful that he came to Clemson.

Lots of great clams and linebackers to compare to, but I can’t imagine him not starting on any team that I have watched in the past 40 years.

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Re: Anthony Simmons


Jun 23, 2018, 8:04 PM

I loved watching Simmons close the gap on any ball carrier. He was fast and smart and he made tackles on sweeps and screens that just didn’t seem possible at the start of the play. He was so much better than anyone else around him in the era that he played. Very grateful that he came to Clemson.

Lots of great clams and linebackers to compare to, but I can’t imagine him not starting on any team that I have watched in the past 40 years.

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The story goes that he was killing Dorman so bad one game,


Jun 23, 2018, 10:03 PM

that at halftime, Coach Gutshall of Dorman told his offense at halftime,"On any give play, whoever is assigned to block Simmons, JUST GO TACKLE HIM. Don't even try to block him, just tackle him. They cannot call holding on every play".

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Simmons, Levon Kirkland, Keith Adam's, Jeff Davis


Jun 23, 2018, 10:50 PM

Rank them any way you want 1-4. There is no wrong answer.

There have been other greats, but those 4 stand above them all.

I will say this though, I've seen Anthony Simmons do things on a football field I didn't think could be done by a human. Absolute freak.

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