Traye Simmons
Encyclopedia
Traye Simmons is an American football
cornerback
for the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
. He attended Minnesota
, as a member of the 2010 graduating class. Shortly after the draft ended, Simmons joined the San Diego Chargers
as an undrafted free agent.
then later moved to Marietta, Georgia
early in his childhood. He was introduced to athletics early in his life involving himself in football, track, basketball & baseball.
and Vontae Davis
. Simmons led for fifth in the Big Ten with four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and added 14 pass breakups to lead the conference in passes defended and rank fifth nationally with 18. His senior year Simmons had 33 tackles, 2 interceptions, 8 pass breakups and a returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown. Simmons earned honorable mention all-conference for his senior campaign.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He attended Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
, as a member of the 2010 graduating class. Shortly after the draft ended, Simmons joined the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent.
Early life
Simmons was born in Tallahassee, FloridaTallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
then later moved to Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
early in his childhood. He was introduced to athletics early in his life involving himself in football, track, basketball & baseball.
High school years
Simmons prepped at Marietta High School. He helped lead the Blue Devils to an 11-1 record and a Region 5-A championship as a senior. Recording five interceptions on the season while being named first-team all-Cobb County by the Marietta Daily Journal. Simmons also was an honorable mention Class 5-A all-state selection by the Georgia Sports Writers Association and was named the Cobb County Touchdown Club Defensive Back of the Year. In Simmons junior campaign, he recorded 38 tackles and a school record nine interceptions as a junior.Junior College Career
Simmons played two seasons at College of the Sequoias. His sophomore season he totaled 29 tackles, including four for losses, in nine games as a sophomore in 2007. He also was credited with six pass break-ups and had six punt returns for 96 yards (16.0 average) on special teams. Simmons earned first team All-Valley Conference honors as a defensive back. His freshman year, Simmons appeared in eight games as a freshman, recording 23 tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage, and three pass break-ups.College career
Simmons was a star at the University of Minnesota in the two years he was there. The talented transfer jumped right into the Gophers’ starting lineup and helped to solidify the secondary in the first year. He emerged as one of the Big Ten’s top cornerbacks, earning second team all-conference honors from both the league’s coaches and media behind 2009 first round Big Ten corners Malcolm JenkinsMalcolm Jenkins
-New Orleans Saints:Jenkins was the first cornerback to be taken by the Saints in the first round since Oregon's Alex Molden went at No. 11 in the 1996 NFL Draft. On August 9, 2009 the Saints agreed to terms with Jenkins on a five-year, $19 million contract....
and Vontae Davis
Vontae Davis
-Miami Dolphins:Davis was signed by the Dolphins to a five-year deal with a guarantee in excess of $7 million. Davis recorded his first career interception in Week 4 of the 2009 season against Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards, returning it 23 yards for a touchdown. Davis finished his rookie...
. Simmons led for fifth in the Big Ten with four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and added 14 pass breakups to lead the conference in passes defended and rank fifth nationally with 18. His senior year Simmons had 33 tackles, 2 interceptions, 8 pass breakups and a returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown. Simmons earned honorable mention all-conference for his senior campaign.