Simmons prepared for any role on team
Former Georgia wide receiver could help immediately with return game
Bill O’Brien jumped on the phone to recruit Georgia wide receiver Tyler Simmons shortly after the Texans made their final draft pick.
The Texans’ coach and general manager had already traded away all of his seventh-round selections. So he turned his attention toward what many call the eighth round of the NFL draft: undrafted free agents.
The Texans have had a significant amount of success with undrafted free agents, including former Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster, long snapper Jon Weeks, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn and inside linebacker Dylan Cole.
For Simmons, a versatile, athletic and big receiver with proven return skills in the Southeastern Conference, O’Brien was selling an opportunity after the Texans’ final pick, Rhode Island wide receiver Isaiah Coulter
in the fifth round. Receivers coach John Perry already had laid the groundwork on Simmons before and during the draft.
Simmons was convinced to join the Texans and signed a three-year contract after the draft that includes $75,000 guaranteed with a $25,000 signing bonus and $50,000 of his first-year base salary guaranteed.
Ultimately, Simmons chose the Texans over the 49ers, Seahawks and Vikings.
“After Coach O’Brien used his last pick, he called and said, ‘We don’t have any more picks, we would love to have you with us, it’s a great opportunity and a great chance to make the team,’” Simmons said in a telephone interview from his Atlanta home. “During the draft and before the draft, I was in constant contact with John Perry. He was constantly letting me know Houston is the place for me and would be a great place for me to play and a great place to call home. He emphasized what I can do for the team, that they don’t have any receivers like me. They showed a lot of love during the whole process.”
At 6-foot, 201 pounds, Simmons is a productive receiver and returner. He’s run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and has proved dangerous on reverses and jet sweeps.
A former blue-chip recruit who chose Georgia over Alabama, Simmons’ final season was his best one. He caught 21 passes for 255 yards and averaged 12.1 yards per reception as he started 12 of 14 games. He also rushed for 89 yards on a dozen carries.
Where Simmons impressed the most was on special teams. He returned nine punts for 143 yards, averaging 15.9 yards per return and shared his school’s Kevin Butler Award as the special teams most valuable player.
Simmons is expected to compete with incumbent return specialist DeAndre Carter, who was re-signed to a veteran minimum deal.
“They’re going to get a relentless team-first guy, somebody who’s great in the locker room and always optimistic about things and doing what it takes to help the team,” Simmons said. “I just put it all on the line every time I step on the field. I can do anything from running the football on reverses to catching the ball to covering punts or catching punts. I’m a pretty versatile athlete. I can do everything.”
Playing at Georgia and catching passes from quarterback Jake Fromm, who was drafted in the fifth round by the Bills, Simmons played in a sophisticated offense. He started occasionally as a junior and caught nine passes for 138 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for 131 yards on five carries.
“We had a versatile offense,” Simmons said. “We ran a lot of similar concepts to the NFL. I got a lot of great experience from great coaches like Kirby Smart.”
Simmons comes from a football family. His father, Shon, played linebacker at Morehouse College.
“My family is more about defense,” said Simmons. “My dad and his older brothers all played defense. I was the first offensive guy.
“It means a lot to me to be one of the first ones in my family to make it this far in football. My dad and his three brothers all played, but never made it to the professional level. To say I’m one of the first ones to do it, means a lot to me. Maybe I can start a new trend. My younger brother is playing for Michigan State, so I want to be an example of what to strive for.”
When Simmons is done playing football, he would like to get into coaching or teaching.
“Finding something to do with kids and giving back to community is my calling, my mom said that all the time,” Simmons said. “I would like to open my own rec ballpark one day.”
Playing in the ultra-competitive SEC, Simmons feels well-prepared for the NFL.
“A lot of times, people say the SEC is like a smaller version of the NFL,” Simmons said. “I’m ready for what’s next for me.”