PSO Scouting Report: LB Isaiah Simmons (Clemson)

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Physical Tools, College Game Film, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

Bio

Pos: LB

Hometown: Olathe, KS

School: Clemson

Class: Redshirt Junior

Age: 21

Height: 6’4″ (93%) | Weight: 238 lbs (42%)

Hands: 9.63” (51%) | Arms: 33.38” (83%)

Bench: N/A | 40-YD: 4.39s (99%)

Facts to Know

1st Butkus Award winner in Clemson history (2019)
ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Unanimous All-American (2019)
Nagurski, Bednarik, Lott, Walter Camp Award finalist (2019)
Played Safety in 2017, began transition to LB/slot CB in 2018

Physical Tools

Pros

Unmatched size/speed/length
4.39s 40 time — 99th %tile
Incredibly explosive lower half
Physicality to handle LB and S
Short-area quickness to keep pace with WRs
Flexibility to bend around OTs easily
150 SPARQ rating (99th %tile)
Overall freakish athletic profile

Cons

Might need to keep adding size if he stays at LB (238 lbs — 42nd percentile)

Grade: A+

Game Film

Pros

Outstanding range and pursuit — closes on ball carriers in an instant
Makes an impact at all three levels of the defense
Safety as a freshman, hybrid LB and slot CB as a sophomore
Ultimate Swiss army knife as a junior
Fluidity and long speed to run with WRs and RBs
Great ball skills with an amazing wingspan
Frame and length to smother TEs
Erases underneath routes and screens
Fantastic tackle radius and body control
Length and strength allow him to effectively shed blocks

Cons

Talents won’t be maximized at one single position
Barely played between the tackles
Overruns in space on occasion

Grade: A

Production

Pros

1st FBS player since Khalil Mack (2013) w/ 100 tackles, 16 TFL, 8 sacks, 2+ INTs
ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus Award, Unanimous All-American (2019)
100 snaps at LB, EDGE, S, SCB
8 forced incompletions (T-1st among LBs)
88+ overall PFF grade last 2 seasons
88.2 PFF coverage grade (12th among LBs)
80+ PFF grades in coverage, run defense, pass rush, and tackling
9.4% missed tackle rate (just 9 total in 2019)

Cons

Average production until he transitioned into a hybrid

Grade: A

Risk

Pros

Playmaker on the biggest stages
Extremely versatile and diversely skilled
Unbelievable combination of size and athleticism
Excellent instincts and football IQ
Highly productive player during team’s 29-game win streak
Consistently won matchups against ACC/Playoff competition
Leader with a Championship pedigree
Handled multiple roles throughout Clemson tenure

Cons

Likely growing pains at ILB
Very unusual skillset that requires a certain level of creativity
Too versatile to pigeon-hole at a single position

Grade: A-

Overall

Take a quick glance at Simmons’ athletic profile and it’s easy to see why he’s such an exciting prospect. Beginning his Clemson career at S, Simmons moved into a hybrid LB/slot CB role as a Sophomore, then became the ultimate chess piece as a Junior. Logging more than 100 snaps at S, LB, slot CB, and EDGE, he didn’t just play every position, he excelled in every position, earning 80+ PFF grades in coverage, run defense, pass rushing, and tackling.

The frame and length of an EDGE, the speed and quickness of a WR, the coverage ability of a DB — Simmons has an incredibly diverse skill set that the NFL hasn’t exactly seen before, and should be utilized as such. Instead of a team trying to pigeon-hole him into a single position, his unique abilities should be maximized by moving him around based on matchups whether it be on a play-by-play, or game-by-game basis.

Pro Comp: S Derwin James (Los Angeles Chargers)

Projected Round: Top-10 pick

Prime Destinations: DET, NYG, CAR, JAX

OVERALL Grade: A