Foodie linebacker is Buckeyes’ top Kobe fan

What’s the most interesting thing about you that nobody ever asks about?

I’ve probably watched every single Gordon Ramsay show ever. I’m a big cooking show fan. I’m not a great cook yet, but I’m super interested in the culinary scene.

I know Nicholas Petite-frere is also a budding chef. Do you guys have competitions on the team to see who’s best?

Well, see that’s the thing. Nobody knows, I guess until now.

Are you telling me you just revealed a secret?

Yeah. But I’ve probably watched every “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Master Chef” season. You can probably ask my mom. I’ve watched every single one. I’m good with the basics — steak, rice, mashed potatoes — not the full meals. I’ve seen Nick’s meals. Nick’s meals are pretty good. I’ll get to that point eventually.

When you’re not watching Gordon Ramsay, what are you doing?

I’m either sleeping or watching football.

Do you have a favorite team that doesn’t play football?

I’m a Lakers fan, but it’s more Kobe (Bryant). That’s my guy. And I’m also a Mets fan.

How did you end up with teams on both coasts?

Being from New York — well, New Jersey — everyone I was around was a Yankees fan, and that’s all they cared about. So I was like, “I want to be a little bit different.” So that’s kinda my team for baseball.

You’re telling me you’re a rebel?

A little bit, but I’m a (New York) Giants fan, so not really. Just a little bit.

One day when you can afford to build a vacation home, is it going to be at the beach? In a city? A mountain retreat?

It will definitely be somewhere warm.

Probably down by a beach, something like that. Just because, the cold, I really don’t like the cold. When it’s football, it’s different, but when you wake up in the morning, you really don’t want to feel freezing cold temperatures.

In high school, you should have been or were voted most likely to what?

I didn’t even get my school yearbook because of COVID, but I think it was most likely to play professional sports or something like that. I don’t know. It’s all up to God anyway, so just pray for that moment to come and keep working until it gets there.

This week we observe the anniversary of 9/11. You weren’t born yet. So what is the historical moment you will never forget where you were?

For me, just because it’s such a big moment, when Kobe died. That was probably one of the more catastrophic moments of my life.

And where were you?

I was literally waking up from a nap, and my mom was screaming at me. You know how when you wake up, you’re delirious and you don’t really know what’s going on? It took me a good 30 minutes to understand what really happened, and then it felt like there was a shotgun in my stomach. That’s one of those moments where you don’t know what to think. Probably for the next two days, I just couldn’t eat. It was like, I don’t know what to do with myself.

Best present you’ve ever received?

I’d probably say it was when I first got a Playstation. Me and my brother, we had to share it. It was like one of those moments where it’s something you always see on TV, and it’s like, “Oh! It’s there.” This was way back when, but it was a really good moment.

A Christmas gift?

Yes.

And the tag said it was for you and your brother? Who got to open it?

I probably did. I was the younger one. He probably let me open it. I’m pretty sure. We always get everything, the younger siblings. That was a good moment. Definitely one of the better moments.

How do you compare to the best singer on the Ohio State Buckeyes?

In my head, I’m probably No. 1 on the team, but I’d probably be average. Below average on the team. But in my head, I’m No. 1. That’s what I think.

What’s the thing you’re proudest of ? And feel free to brag.

Proudest of my family. Me and my brother (Notre Dame linebacker Shayne Simon) both play college football at the highest level. Obviously a lot of work comes with it, but we’re so blessed. I know you said don’t be modest.

Yes, don’t be modest.

I’d say we’re one of the top (sets of) brothers in college football.

Who’s the better football player? You or your brother?

I’m going to say me. But...

He’s going to say him?

Yeah. And I’m always going to try to be like my brother. He’s my biggest role model in life, and not many people have people they can look up to like that. He’s the reason I’m here. I don’t get here without him. I love him so much. He’s doing his best out there, and I’m just really proud to be his brother.

LORI SCHMIDT/THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Cody Simon was the No. 9-rated outside linebacker nationally in his recruiting class.

KYLE ROBERTSON/COLUMBUS DISPATCH Cody Simon had seven tackles and a sack against Minnesota.