As a freshman in 1995, Simmons earned the starting job at inside linebacker after just five days of practice.
He finished the season with 150 tackles, and became the first defensive player ever to be named UPI's national freshman of the year, and received first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors.
As a sophomore, he set the Tigers' record for tackles in a season (178) en route to being named an All-American, and earning another first-team All-ACC selection.
Simmons became one of the premier players in the nation as a junior, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.
[1] His speed was part of the reason Simmons was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 1998 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.