Simmons earned his first SEC weekly honor after picking up two scores in MSU's 52-21 win at Louisiana Tech.
Jeffery Simmons Selected SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week
September 11, 2017 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Following a dominating performance in Mississippi State's 52-21 win at Louisiana Tech, sophomore defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was named Defensive Lineman of the Week by the Southeastern Conference on Monday.
The first-time honor comes after a stellar performance that saw Simmons become the first MSU defensive player to register two touchdowns in a game since Johnthan Banks had two scores against Florida on Oct. 24, 2009.
The sophomore from Macon, Miss., opened the contest with a blocked PAT attempt midway through the first quarter. Four minutes later, Simmons followed with a blocked punt, which he recovered in the endzone for the go-ahead score. It was the first blocked punt returned or recovered for a touchdown by the Bulldogs since Sept. 12, 2009 at Auburn.
Simmons added a second touchdown during the third quarter as he recovered a fumble and returned it for 90 yards and a score. The play was the longest fumble-recovery touchdown for MSU since Josh Morgan had a 97-yard touchdown against BYU on Sept. 14, 2000. Simmons finished the night with five tackles and a nation-leading two blocks, while scoring more touchdowns than three SEC teams last Saturday.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
The first-time honor comes after a stellar performance that saw Simmons become the first MSU defensive player to register two touchdowns in a game since Johnthan Banks had two scores against Florida on Oct. 24, 2009.
The sophomore from Macon, Miss., opened the contest with a blocked PAT attempt midway through the first quarter. Four minutes later, Simmons followed with a blocked punt, which he recovered in the endzone for the go-ahead score. It was the first blocked punt returned or recovered for a touchdown by the Bulldogs since Sept. 12, 2009 at Auburn.
Simmons added a second touchdown during the third quarter as he recovered a fumble and returned it for 90 yards and a score. The play was the longest fumble-recovery touchdown for MSU since Josh Morgan had a 97-yard touchdown against BYU on Sept. 14, 2000. Simmons finished the night with five tackles and a nation-leading two blocks, while scoring more touchdowns than three SEC teams last Saturday.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."