How Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, Ohio State’s Chase Young formed a friendship
Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons had what he described as a great learning experience this spring when he attended the NFL combine and participated in a program where underclassmen are given an overview of obstacles a potential pro player might face.
Simmons and Clemson running back Travis Etienne represented the Tigers at the event, missing a day of spring practice as they planned for their futures.
“That was cool,” Simmons told The State. “Got the opportunity just to learn a bunch of things, just how the next level works, how people fail, how people succeed. So overall it was just a really good experience.”
Simmons also interacted with several of the top players in college football at the event.
One player he got to know well was Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, who went on to dominate for the Buckeyes in 2019.
Young and Simmons have stayed in contact throughout this season, and their teams will meet in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 28 when No. 2 seed Ohio State faces No. 3 seed Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal. Simmons watched the CFP selection show earlier this month hoping Clemson and Ohio State would be matched up.
“When I found out it was them I was really excited, just because I know (Young),” Simmons said. “I met him earlier this year up in Indiana. We’re pretty close now. It’s almost like we’ve known each other forever. He’s a cool guy, real down to earth. You would never know that he’s the animal that he is on the field.”
Simmons has also been described as an animal on the field.
Young and Simmons were finalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the best defensive player in college football. Young won the award after posting 16.5 sacks, the most in college football. He was also a Heisman finalist.
Simmons leads Clemson in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks as he put together an All-American season. He became the sixth unanimous All-American in Tigers history on Thursday
Young and Simmons are projected to be top 10 picks in the 2020 NFL draft, but first they have some unfinished business to take care of. The two friends will be arguably the best players on the field when the Tigers and Buckeyes meet in Arizona.
“At the NCAA symposium where they bring some of the top athletes, that’s where we first met,” Young said. “I feel like our relationship just grew. We’re two defensive players. You’ve gotta have friends in this thing. You’ve gotta have people you do it with. He’s just a brother that I play the game with.”
Next
Who: Clemson (13-0) vs. Ohio State (13-0)
Where: PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28
TV: ESPN
Early line: Clemson by 2
This story was originally published December 20, 2019 at 8:19 AM with the headline "How Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, Ohio State’s Chase Young formed a friendship."
