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SEC commish uncomfortable with Simmons' enrollment at Mississippi State

Christopher Hanewinckel / Reuters

Mississippi State might be headed for the SEC commissioner's doghouse.

Less than 24 hours after the Bulldogs controversially announced they would allow four-star defensive end Jeffery Simmons to enroll at the school and play football, Greg Sankey responded harshly to the decision.

"I would not express comfort with a situation like that," Sankey told reporters Friday at the SEC meetings.

"It is an institutional decision," he added. "The characterization of comfort with the decision is not a characterization I would provide."

Simmons, Mississippi State's top-ranked signee, is currently facing assault charges stemming from an incident in March, where he appeared to repeatedly strike a woman. Mississippi State granted Simmons conditional enrollment, which will see him sit out the season opener and undergo counselling upon request.

Related: Mississippi State shows talent trumps everything in Simmons decision

Sankey's comments, however, go against Mississippi State's claim from Thursday that the SEC office was "comfortable" with the program's decision.

Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen also spoke at the meetings and told ESPN's Chris Low that Simmons deserves a second chance.

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