Traye Simmons

Traye Simmons (born January 18, 1987 in Tallahassee, Florida) is an American football cornerback free agent. He attended Minnesota, as a member of the 2010 graduating class. Shortly after the draft ended, Simmons joined the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent.

Early life
Simmons was born in Tallahassee, Florida then later moved to Marietta, Georgia early in his childhood. He was introduced to athletics early in his life involving himself in football, track, basketball & baseball.

High school years
Simmons prepped at Marietta High School. He helped lead the Blue Devils to an 11-1 record and a Region 5-A championship as a senior. Recording five interceptions on the season while being named first-team all-Cobb County by the Marietta Daily Journal. Simmons also was an honorable mention Class 5-A all-state selection by the Georgia Sports Writers Association and was named the Cobb County Touchdown Club Defensive Back of the Year. In Simmons junior campaign, he recorded 38 tackles and a school record nine interceptions as a junior.

Junior College Career
Simmons played two seasons at College of the Sequoias. His sophomore season he totaled 29 tackles, including four for losses, in nine games as a sophomore in 2007. He also was credited with six pass break-ups and had six punt returns for 96 yards (16.0 average) on special teams. Simmons earned first team All-Valley Conference honors as a defensive back. His freshman year, Simmons appeared in eight games as a freshman, recording 23 tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage, and three pass break-ups.

College career
Simmons was a star at the University of Minnesota in the two years he was there. The talented transfer jumped right into the Gophers’ starting lineup and helped to solidify the secondary in the first year. He emerged as one of the Big Ten’s top cornerbacks, earning second team all-conference honors from both the league’s coaches and media behind 2009 first round Big Ten corners Malcolm Jenkins and Vontae Davis. Simmons was fifth in the Big Ten with four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and added 14 pass breakups to lead the conference in passes defended and rank fifth nationally with 18. His senior year Simmons had 33 tackles, 2 interceptions, 8 pass breakups and a returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown. Simmons earned honorable mention all-conference for his senior campaign.

NFL career
Simmons joined the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2010.