He attended Starkville High School in Mississippi, where he played middle linebacker and was part of the Yellow Jackets teams that went 30–0 and won 2 State Championships (1994 & 1995).

Simpson earned 82 tackles impressively while missing 3 games due to a knee injury in his junior year.

Simpson capped off his senior season with 105 tackles, Sporting News 1st Team All-American, and Dick Butkus semi-finalist honoring the best linebacker in college football in 1999.

[citation needed] 2009: Winnipeg Blue Bombers Played 13 games for the Blue Bombers and tallied 84 defensive tackles, three special team tackles, two quarterback sacks and one interception 2008: Winnipeg Blue Bombers Simpson started the year off leading the league in tackles with 29 after 4 games before suffering a season-ending injury tearing his Pectorial Major Tendon.

He was second in the CFL in defensive tackles with 112, was tied for third in fumble returns with two and contributed four sacks.

2006: Winnipeg Blue Bombers It didn't take long for Simpson to influence his new team.

The first-year Blue Bomber middle linebacker led the CFL in defensive tackles with 110.

It was the fourth time Simpson led the CFL in defensive tackles in a season.

Simpson also started the team's CFL East Semifinal loss to the Toronto Argonauts, contributing a team-leading 10 defensive tackles.

Simpson's efforts were recognized by his being named to the CFL and East Division All-Star teams.

Simpson was also runner-up as the league's Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year Award.

He also had four defensive tackles in the Lions' Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts.

Lions Simpson led the CFL in defensive tackles (92), the third straight year he did that as a member of the B.C.

Lions linebacker, led the CFL in defensive tackles for the second year in a row with 92.