As a recruit from Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kan., Isaiah Simmons wasn’t highly touted by the major recruiting services, nor did he boast an impressive offer list relative to many other more high-profile prospects.
However, Clemson saw a lot of potential in Simmons and did not care how many stars he had by his name. The Tigers took a chance on him, offering him late in the 2016 recruiting cycle following the departure of a few defensive backs to the NFL, and that decision paid off in a big way for both them and Simmons.
After redshirting as a true freshman in 2016, the versatile defender transitioned from safety in 2017 to the starting nickel/SAM linebacker position in 2018 and was eventually named Clemson’s first-ever Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker in 2019, only his second year at the position.