OT: 2017 LB Antjuan Simmons commits to Michigan State

Submitted by Magnus on

Antjuan Simmons, who played across the street from Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer, committed to Michigan State this afternoon. He had been previously committed to Ohio State. He's a 4-star, the #20 OLB, and #316 overall. He's also #8 in the state. Michigan has the top 6 guys, Donovan Johnson (PSU) is #7, and then Simmons.

I think Simmons can be a good player in college. It's unfortunate he got upset that Michigan didn't offer him sooner. Oh well. We have a good LB class without him, so it might not hurt us that much down the road.

Double-D

January 14th, 2017 at 6:49 PM ^

Do we need a 4th LB or are we just holding out for Willie Gay because he is elite? I'm surprised we did not jump back in when he opened up.

I see guys like a Simmons as a bonus commit when we get them. We get a good player and every time we keep one from going to MSU it's a good thing. Especially with their limited reach.

Magnus

January 14th, 2017 at 9:44 PM ^

AFAIK, we have four linebackers: Ben Mason, Joshua Ross, Drew Singleton, and Jordan Anthony. A lot of people are assuming Mason will end up at FB, but he was recruited as a LB.

I don't think we NEED another linebacker. We should have a solid two-deep of talent, regardless of whether we add another LB (McCray, Bush, Gil, Mbem-Bosse, Uche, the incoming freshmen, etc.). I don't think Simmons necessarily would improve that group from a talent perspective.

Gay is an elite talent, though. IMO, he would probably start as a true freshman next year.

GoWings2008

January 14th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^

That's such a buckeye thing to say. One of the top 10 guys in the state, of course I'd like to see him at Michigan. Sparty is going to get their players, good defensive history. But we will continue to kick their ass if we pull in the best in and out of the state. And because Harbaugh.

Gucci Mane

January 14th, 2017 at 11:13 PM ^

There is no trying. To say we offered him without qualifying your statement that Michigan did not heavily pursue him is a disservice to people reading your comment. The truth is the big boys didn't make him a priority so he jumped at his "offer" from OSU and they kicked him to the curb for a better player.
Now is he a good get for Sparty ? He sure is. But he is not Michigan or OSU material (according t Harbuagh and Meyer).

Magnus

January 14th, 2017 at 11:25 PM ^

This is a dumb argument.

Literally every recruiting site has a check mark in the offer column for Antjuan Simmons and Michigan. I don't need to qualify my statement that he was offered. He was offered. The only one disputing that is some random poster on MGoBlog.

What a waste of time disputing this.

Gucci Mane

January 14th, 2017 at 11:47 PM ^

What is dumb about the argument ? It seems to me perfectly logical to distinguish between a recruit Michigan is trying hard to get and one Michigan "offers" as a back up plan.

GoBLUE_SemperFi

January 15th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^

Michigan has offered 306 student athletes...I don't think they have that many spots to fill.  Qualifying whether an offer is a "real" offer or whether an athlete is really a take, would seem to be pretty important in determining whether or not Michigan missed on a commit or not.  Simmons doesn't seem to be a "miss", at least, not based on the actions of the Michigan coaching staff.  They seem to be comfortable either waiting for Gay or not adding another LB at all (over adding Simmons)...

Magnus

January 15th, 2017 at 6:37 PM ^

Michigan has offered 311 student-athletes in 2017.

Regardless, I don't have a problem with the distinction. But whether it was an offer or an "offer," Michigan offered/"offered" him a long time ago.

And if he didn't get an offer then, he didn't get an offer at all. Because Michigan hasn't been recruiting him hard late in the process.

BeatIt

January 15th, 2017 at 10:11 AM ^

I think both schools will regret passing on simmons. If he stays healthy I think he'll end up being a all BIG 10 type of player.OSU didn't necessarily kick him to the curb for a better player. He went on a visit to msu without informing the OSU coaching staff. Not long after they signed Browning and Simmons reopened his recruitment. He had mentioned one of the reasons he chose OSU was the lack of attention UM showed him ealier in the process.

CalifExile

January 15th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^

There's no reason for M or OSU to have regrets later on. For OSU, he is ranked lower than any other player in their class, except for the Kicker. M has 3 LBs who are ranked higher than he is. I'll assume Brian and the rest of the Mgoblog braintrust are correct in categorizing Mason as a FB and Paye as a LB. Paye seems to be handpicked by Brown as a guy who is a grest fit for his system, i.e., a better choice than Simmons.

You never know how things will turn out with any individual. Injuries or personal issues can sidetrack anyone. All the coaches can do is check the character of the individual and make their best estimate of how an individual will develop in their system. It may happen that Simmons will turn out to be All B1G or better. Even if that happens there will be no reason for regrets for coaches who have done their due diligence.

CalifExile

January 15th, 2017 at 12:39 PM ^

I'll admit that's earlier than I realized, but I think it still qualifies as "late" for the #20 ranked 4* OLB who is literally across the street, just outside the 247 composite 300 and ranked eighth in the state. Not that it matters whether it qualifies as "late" or not, it's pretty obvious that Harbaugh has never been particularly interested in having him as part of the 2017 class.

Magnus

January 14th, 2017 at 3:51 PM ^

If this were virtually anyone else, I wouldn't post about it when he commits elsewhere. But he played across the street from Michigan Stadium. Probably almost everyone who visits this site has tailgated at, walked past, or at least seen Ann Arbor Pioneer.