If Jeffrey Simmons was a three-star guard, he would not be playing for Mississippi State in 2016, but since he's an elite-level defensive end prospect, he will be suiting up for the Bulldogs in 2016.
In one of the more tone-deaf decisions in recent memory, the school announced Thursday that the top recruit in the Bulldogs 2016 class will be enrolled in school and play for the football team this coming season after serving a one-game suspension.
The decision comes as the 6-foot-4, 262-pounder awaits final resolution on misdemeanor charges after a damning video surfaced of Simmons involved in an altercation with his sister and another adult woman.
The stipulations surrounding his enrollment will see Simmons evaluated by the licensed professionals at the university's student counseling services and be required to complete any program prescribed by that office.
In today's college football landscape, or any for that matter, the punishment is simply not enough.
Discussion around the sport this offseason is centered around the cover up at Baylor over domestic violence and sexual assault charges against current and former Bears players. With the turmoil swirling around that program, one would think Mississippi State, along with other schools, would tread carefully going forward. That doesn't appear to be the case.
Simply put, Mississippi State needs top recruits such as Simmons to compete in the ultra-competitive SEC West. While Dan Mullen has certainly built the program up since joining from Florida after the 2008 season, the Bulldogs still rank last in the division when it comes to recruiting.
While the video of Simmons first shows him attempting to break up the fight between his sister and the other adult woman, he clearly throws punches while the woman is on the ground. Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon was suspended for the entire 2014 season for punching a female student in the face. Despite that suspension acting as a possible precedent, Mississippi State opted for a one-game ban only.
Putting football aside, it's particularly shocking that an educational institution allows someone with that charge in their past to enroll in the school. Mississippi State's mission statement, as listed on its website, reads "Mississippi State is committed to its tradition of instilling among its students and alumni ideals of diversity, citizenship, leadership and service."
In allowing Simmons enrollment, the university failed to live up to that very mission statement.
But at least they may have a decent pass rush next year, right?
