McKeesport (Pa.) defensive tackle Delvon Simmons, who's rated the No. 80 player overall in the nation by rivals.com, gave North Carolina's recruiting class a huge boost with his commitment Wednesday on national signing day.
Here's what McKeesport coach Jim Ward said about Simmons in a telephone interview:
Q: Why did he choose UNC?
A: He thought the capus was absolutely beautiful. It was far enough away from home but not too far away from home. Butch Davis’ ability to develop defensive linemen was very important. The graduation rate of their players, and being able to play in a pure 4-3.
Q: How important was playing in the 4-3?
A: It was really important. There’s a lot of schools that are starting to get into the 3-4. But it’s such a contrast to the 4-3. And to me, Delvon’s God-given ability is his athleticism and his ability to get off the ball and be disruptive. And that doesn’t lend itself to playing in that kind of scheme.
We really were limited in the end to just a couple schools that ran a real 4-3, and that was USC and North Carolina. And that’s something that was important to Delvon, to have that opportunity to be a three-technique defensive tackle and do what he feels most comfortable doing.
Q: What’s he like as a kid?
A: He’s a great kid. He’s very engaging. He’s got an incredible personality, a laugh and a smile that kind of lights up a room. He’s a very, very fierce competitor, and he’s a kid that’s very easy to like. I think he’ll be well liked by his teammates. I think he’ll be popular among his teammates. And just overall has an outstanding personality. I think North Carolina is going to be really excited to get him.
Q: Physically, what are his assets? You mentioned his athleticism.
A: He’s a little over 6-feet-5. He’s about 275 pounds. He’s got a frame in which he’s probably going to grow to about 300 pounds, or maybe a couple pounds more. Very long arms. Very explosive. And just is a kid that when you see him and you see him at 275, you think he’s probably 250 until you put him on the scale. That’s the kind of size that he has.
Comments
read between the lines??
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 16:01 — dkellyuncman you've lost it..
why can't you be happy with the kicker, punter and all the rest of the 2 star recuits Opie Taylor gets each year?
obsess much?????????
Dkelly, us poor State fans
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 18:54 — awdracerDkelly, us poor State fans will have to live with being 4-0 against Butch Davis while you guys pop champagne over your recruiting trophy.
Agree
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 13:26 — SurferYep, enjoy, because that is all you've got, 4 little wins and one winning season. I guess that you will have to continue to hope that some of our best players make poor decisions that keep them from playing.
UNC just got involved with
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 15:22 — awdracerUNC just got involved with Simmons recently. Here's another quote from Ward that you won't see in THIS newspaper....
“I can tell you that North Carolina has been added,” McKeesport coach Jim Ward said. “We had a meeting behind closed doors, and that is all I can say. The rest stays there.”
You can read between the lines.
Read Between the Lines?
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 16:05 — nchurricanesOh, yes, that MUST mean something shady was done. Nothing done behind closed doors is ever legitimate. What a joke. BTW, some other information on the kid:
Apparently Simmons visited Chapel Hill over the summer and toured the campus and met with Butch Davis during a high school camp. (An "unofficial visit.") Back in October he named UNC as one of his 3 leaders. Recently he had an in-home with Butch Davis and the new defensive line coach.
I find it interesting that all the ABCers think there must be money changing hands. When you're already under the microscope is when you're LEAST likely to do something of that ilk.
Stars don't matter or so the wuffies tell us
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 22:47 — gvillegatrUntil the Heels sign a big one and then all of a sudden it matters indirectly as the "recruit was bought."
Folks, stars do matter and Butch knows exactly how to coach them. It is not BD' fault a couple of bad apples F'ed up his Rhembrandt this past year.
A couple of bad apples?
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 00:01 — awdracerA couple of bad apples? FOURTEEN?
Funny
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 15:59 — SurferOkay Get Smart. You are exactly correct, in that I saw that quote several days ago when it was learned that UNC was in the running for Simmons' commitment. He was on campus this summer, likes the 4-3 and is fairly close. The context of the coach's remarks is that he was not going to give any indication as to where Simmons was leaning in his recruitment.
Gosh, please don't tell the world that "in-home" visits with recruits are also "behind closed doors". Hilarious.