Moving past what could have been

As a wide receiver, Georgia’s Tyler Simmons is not yet widely known among the membership of the Bulldog Nation, but he’s made his mark as a solid player on special teams.

S im m ons received an unwanted moment in the spotlight during January’s College Football Playoff Championship game after he blocked an Alabama punt in the third quarter, only to have the play nullified by an offside call, which replays showed was erroneous.

And since that time, the 6-foot, 200-pound junior has re-lived the play a time or two, not because he’s wanted to, but because family, friends and fans have stopped him to review the video.

“I tell people all the time that if I had a dollar for everyone, I’d be a billionaire by now,” Simmons said Friday after practice, the Bulldogs’ 20th of the summer. “… I don’t really watch it much, other than people showing me. They made the call, and we’ve just got to go on to the next season and do the best we can.”

When asked if he’s OK with the frequent rehashes of the nullified block, Simmons said, “It was pretty memorable while it lasted, but I’m ready to make some other memories at the University of Georgia.”

Some eight months after the play – and the game — Simmons has learned to wax philosophical about the entire situation. It’s clear that he’s moved on.

“I didn’t see the replay until after the game, and I didn’t know until after the game that I reallywasn’t (offside), but that’s just the way it fell,” he said.

In two seasons, Simmons has caught five passes for 45 yards in 21 games.