After much deliberation, Mississippi State has allowed four-star defensive end Jeffrey Simmons to enroll in the school and participate in football activities, provided he meets certain conditions.
Simmons, ranked 12th in the nation at his position by ESPN, is currently awaiting final resolution on misdemeanor charges after breaking up a fight between his sister and another woman.
"Based on conversations our staff has had with school, community, and church leaders in Noxubee County, this incident appears to be uncharacteristic of Jeffrey," Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin said in a statement. "It's a highly unique circumstance to administer discipline to a student for an incident that occurred prior to that individual joining our university. However, it's important that Jeffrey and other potential Mississippi State students understand that these type of actions and poor decisions are not acceptable."
The 6-foot-4, 262-pound Simmons was the highest ranked member of the program's 2016 recruiting class, and will be forced to sit out the first game of the season against South Alabama. In the wake of the situation at Baylor, this decision will likely be met with strong backlash, but Stricklin was adamant that being part of the Bulldogs football program will help Simmons.
"We expect the structure and discipline Jeffrey will be a part of in our football program to benefit him," said the seventh-year athletic director. "Jeffrey will be held accountable for his actions while at Mississippi State, and there will be consequences for any future incidents."
