Panthers invite RB Jalen Simmons to Camp

[Jeremy Igo]

Simmons is listed at 5'8 205lbs out of SC State. He is from Charlotte, NC. Simmons played strong safety in highschool. (begin speculation)

 

 

Here is a nice interview...

 

Quote

Did you play any other positions in football?

I played SS in High school.

At your position, what separates you from others?

I separate myself from other Rb’s because I have good awareness, speed, running ability and blocking ability and overall my work ethic will surpass anyone on the field.

When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?

When I watch film it’s all about what type of blitzes is the defense is running which DE I have to chip before getting in a route, furthermore I also look at how the second level defenders tackle.

 

 

[Jon Snow]

Dud is small for a RB.  Wonder what they plan to use him as?

[KB_fan]

Always exciting to have local guys in the roster, even if it's only for training camp.  Good for him.

I feel bad for him and the other tryout guys who just got signed, however.  They're gonna be totally lost in the fallout / emotion / surprise over cutting Boykin.

[countryboi]

This kid has his work cut out for him coming from a HBCU and he is only 205. 

[nctarheel0619]

Camp body fa sho.  

[CWORS]

1 hour ago, nctarheel0619 said:

Camp body fa sho.  

Yep I agree

[PoundCat]

1 hour ago, countryboi said:

This kid has his work cut out for him coming from a NBCU and he is only 205. 

What's NBCU? Is that a new sports station like ESPNU?

[the butch]

I always reflect on Gett's and Ron's comment, "We just need players," when I read about these types of signings.  These rookies are going to have to push themselves to become better than they thought they [holy alliteration, Batman] could be.  

[csx]

4 hours ago, Bogart said:

Dud is small for a RB.  Wonder what they plan to use him as?

Camp body

[caatfan]

4 hours ago, Bogart said:

 Wonder what they plan to use him as?

They needed a 5' 8" guy so the four at 5' 9" would have somebody to pick on.

[LinvilleGorge]

Virtually every D1 recruit plays the "just go out there and wreck poo" position in HS.  They're playing against guys like me.  They're just out there straight wrecking shop.

[The_Rainmaker]

If he has the shake and bake could compete against Fozzy.

[KB_fan]

So the kid's nickname is "Scoot"

Nice profile about him at the Observer today:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article77969247.html

Here's an excerpt:
 

Quote

 

It was a whirlwind weekend for Simmons, who was working at a youth football camp at St. Paul Baptist Church in Charlotte when he found out he’d be one of 35 tryout players at the Panthers’ rookie camp.

By Monday morning, he was changing into workout gear in the Panthers’ locker room alongside star players such as Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Jonathan Stewart, Mike Tolbert and Cam Newton, whom Simmons called “the man around Charlotte.”

A surreal experience

Simmons said that he tried not to be star-struck but that the experience of going from a camp counselor to an NFL player was surreal.

“I’m still in shock right now, having been through the first day,” he said. “It hasn’t sunk in yet, and I don’t know when it is going to sink in.”

Simmons played on West Charlotte’s JV team for most of his freshman season until former West Charlotte coach Mo Flowers made him the starting varsity tailback before the playoffs.

In the first playoff game, Simmons ran over a Providence safety at the goal line on a play Flowers says epitomized his speed, power and explosiveness.

“They met at the 1-yard line, and Scoot finished at the back of the end zone,” Flowers said. “The (Providence player) got the bad end of that deal.”

Flowers said Simmons rushed for 100 yards or more in four consecutive playoff games before West Charlotte lost to Independence in the semifinals. Flowers left the following season for a coaching job in South Carolina, but Simmons continued his tough running.

A slow college start

He committed to Duke before his senior year before signing with S.C. State. (Flowers says a defensive lineman ended up with Simmons’ scholarship slot.)

Simmons dislocated his shoulder during his sophomore season at the FBS school in Orangeburg. Before undergoing surgery, doctors discovered Simmons also needed surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his other shoulder.

He sat out the entire 2013 season but came back the following season to rush for 1,090 yards and nine touchdowns.

“I told Scoot he is the hardest-working player I’ve ever coached,” said S.C. State running backs coach Lee Chambers, who coached the Packers’ James Starks at the University of Buffalo. “It doesn’t matter what time it is, what the weather it is, when Scoot Simmons steps on the field, he’s there to work.”

 

 

[Ricky Spanish]

I now want him to make the team because his nickname is scoot.