During the previous autumn at Ole Miss, Austin Simmons sustained an ankle injury during an early-season match against Kentucky. This unfortunate setback allowed Trinidad Chambliss, a former Division II standout, to take over the starting quarterback position for the Rebels.
This autumn, after making the move to Missouri, Simmons has joined Chambliss in sparking considerable interest for the NFL Draft.
If Simmons remains in college football for another season, he will be doing so with the Tigers, as reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Friday, indicating that the left-handed player has committed to the program for the 2027 season.
According to Thamel, the contract that Simmons, who is approaching 21 years of age, has signed allows the promising quarterback to consider entering the NFL Draft following this season.
In Eric Edholm’s most recent Big Board for Yahoo Sports, Simmons holds the position of the No. 20 prospect overall in the 2027 draft class.
“I’ve been cautious about ranking Simmons until now, much like I was with Ty Simpson last year, due to his limited experience,” Edholm expressed this week. “However, in a quarterback class that has largely underperformed, Simmons stands out as one of the clear successes. He’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing throwers in college football, capable of making almost any throw, anywhere, when he’s on schedule and receiving adequate protection. However, when faced with pressure, things become less clear-cut, but Simmons is undeniably a talent worth investing in.”
Simmons has led Missouri to a 6-2 record at this point in the season. While he only completed 56.8% of his passes and threw no touchdowns alongside one interception in a significant defeat against Chambliss and the then-No. 9 Ole Miss on October 17, the senior quarterback has been fairly consistent otherwise.
He has managed to throw at least one touchdown in all other games played by the Tigers, achieving three or more touchdown passes in three separate matches, resulting in an overall touchdown-to-interception ratio of 16:2.
With a total of 1,952 passing yards, he ranks as the fourth highest of any SEC quarterback this season. In this timeframe, he has maintained a 63.3% completion rate.
The Tigers, under Simmons’ leadership, have been ranked as high as No. 13 in the AP Top 25 and currently find themselves at No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
This Saturday afternoon, Missouri will face off against No. 7 Texas.
It has become increasingly common for college football athletes to reaffirm their commitments to their programs midseason, as it aids schools in retaining existing players and attracting new recruits.
Oregon State freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree, a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, declared last month that he will be continuing with the Pac-12 Beavers for the upcoming season. Shortly after, reports emerged that quarterback Anthony Colandrea has signed a deal to remain with Nebraska for the 2027 season.
