More developments last night on the Freddie Simmons front. He named a Top 5 yesterday which may be the final five. Scout then published an article with quotes from Simmons about his top 5. Based on those quotes, I think Wake Forest may have a slight lead over Rutgers. Virginia will get an unofficial visit right before he makes his decision. I wrote an updated profile summary this morning:
Freddie Simmons Jr (6’3/175 WR) – Bethlehem, PA
Rating: 3-star (5.6 numerical), Rivals #90 WR in nation, #15 player in PA
BCS Offers: Wake Forest (March 25), Cal (March 7), Purdue (February 20), Rutgers (March 1), Kansas and Virginia (April 2)
Nike Combine: 20-yard shuttle 4.41, vertical 32.9, kneeling power ball 33.0 (also measured 6’3 and 176 lbs)
Background profile: Simmons has been a target of BCS schools primarily because of his height/speed combo. The Nike combine in the spring confirmed his 6’3 height. Finished 2nd in the state in the 300 hurdles at the AAA level (37.82 seconds, 3rd fastest time ever for his region). Also qualified for state semi-finals in 110 hurdles, just missing qualification for the 8 man final. Has played only one year of high school football (he had been playing basketball), but demonstrated that he is an instinctive playmaker. After a slow start to the season he finished with 50 receptions for 700 yards and 11 TD’s.
Recruitment: Several BCS schools, including Wake Forest, jumped in with offers late-winter and early-spring, but since then his list of BCS offers has held steady with the exception of adding Kansas. He very recently named a top 5 of Wake Forest, Rutgers, Virginia, Cal and San Diego State. He reverse-recruited Cal, and has noted on several occasions that his dream was to play college football on the West Coast. However, it is unclear how strong Cal’s interest is at this point. Previously named Rutgers as his early leader. Camped at UNC and Duke but did not obtain offers from either.
Simmons visited Wake on June 12, tweeting 3 times including a pic of BB&T Field with the caption “In Love”. He told Scout that the visit really opened his eyes to how great of a school Wake really is. Called the coaches “amazing” and said that they had consistently been there in his recruitment “since Day 1”. He says that he is closer to Coach Higgins than any other WR coach. He is being recruited for the "X-receiver" position.
He plans to visit Virginia on July 21 and then make a decision shortly after.