John Simon, Senior, Defensive Tackle, Ohio State
Overview:
John Simon is a big athlete who is a hard worker and a gym rat. He earned a starting spot on the defensive line as a sophomore and has been a starter ever since. Now he is entering his senior season and his third straight year as a starter. His junior season he recorded seven sacks and a whooping 15 tackles for a loss. He had a total of 53 tackles on the season, which is very impressive for a defensive tackle. Those stats helped him earn First Team All Big Ten Honors. He is very quick off the ball and uses his astonishing strength to disrupt the offense on a daily basis. Simon will live in opponent’s backfields again in 2012.
Final Projection:
Simon has put up eye popping numbers from the defensive tackle spot. He is one of the best in the nation and will be one of the top seniors. He has the strength to play defensive tackle in a 4-3 and his dangerous combination of size and strength makes him an ideal fit as a five technique in a 3-4. He reportedly has already put up 48 reps on the bench press (at 225) and that number will likely spike with his unparalleled work ethic. With an excellent senior season and a possible record setting bench press performance at the combine, Simon has a chance to be a first round prospect but should not slip out of the second round in the upcoming draft.
See All NFL Draft Profiles and Rankings
