The 2019 NFL Scouting Combine is scheduled from February 26th-March 4th. The combine is the place where every player gets an opportunity to boost his stock going into the draft. However, one top prospect will not get that same opportunity. Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons has been banned from competing. Colorado State wide receiver Preston Williams has also been banned.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was the first to report the news:
I love this rule. Keep the scumbags out of Indianapolis. Why should they get the privilege to compete in the combine? Simmons was arrested in 2016 for striking a woman several times. Simmons claimed the woman was fighting his sister for what that’s worth. Either way, I’m all good with Simmons getting banned from the Combine because of it.
Lucky for Simmons, the incident occurred prior to his career at Miss State. It’s widely assumed that Simmons will go in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft but this certainly hurts his stock. Simmons and Williams are the only two known players to this date that are banned from competing.
Simmons appeared in 37 games for the Bulldogs during his collegiate career. From the defensive tackle position, Simmons racked up 6 sacks and 5 forced fumbles during that time. More important, Simmons was named to first team SEC honors in 2017 and 2018. Simmons has two teammates at Miss State that could go high in the 2019 NFL Draft. Safety John Abram and defensive end Montez Sweat who tore up the Senior Bowl.
This isn’t the end for Simmons. Joe Mixon was also banned from the combine and was drafted in the second round. Hell, Reuben Foster attacked a worker at the combine, got sent home, and still got picked in the first round. I’m sure Simmons will be just fine.
