Darrell Simmons Jr.

Prior to Kansas: Started 38 games over three seasons at Iowa State, including 11 or more games in each season from 2020-22…Second Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the coaches in 2020…Appeared in three bowl games while at Iowa State and played in the 2020 Big 12 Championship Game…Blocked for All-American running back Breece Hall, who broke an FBS record by rushing for a touchdown in 24-straight games…As a freshman, was a member of a unit that was one of 11 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, presented to the best offensive line in college football…Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN in 2019…Ranked as the No. 68 offensive guard by 247Sports…Top-35 player in the state of Illinois by 247Sports and ESPN…Two-time all-state selection…First team Class 7A all-state pick in 2018, leading team to a 9-3 record…Part of a team that averaged over 50 points a game and reached the state quarterfinals…Coached by Darren Sunkett.

2023: Saw action in all 13 games, making three starts on the offensive line … transferred at the end of the season … finished Cyclone career playing in 49 games and making 38 starts.

2022: Played in 12 games, making 11 starts at right guard … team averaged 369.8 yards per game, including the third-best total through the air in school history (261.8).

2021: One of ISU’s leaders on the offensive line, starting all 13 games … helped the Cyclones record their fourth-best scoring average (31.3) and fifth-best total offensive average (424.5) in school history … in league games only, the Cyclones ranked second in scoring (34.8) and first in total offense (452.7) … the offensive line helped the Cyclones rank second nationally in red zone offense (95.9 pct.), converting on 47-of-49 trips to break the school record … paved holes for consensus All-American running back Breece Hall, who broke an FBS record for consecutive games with a rushing TD (24) and ranked second nationally in scoring (138) … enters junior season with 24 career starts.

2020: Second Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic … Honorable Mention All-Big 12 … started 11 games at right guard … member of a unit that was one of 11 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award … helped team break school record for rushing touchdowns (31) and post the second-best scoring offense (32.9) in school history … team also tallied over 400 yards of offense in eight of 12 games to average 436.3 yards per game, the third-best total offense total in school history … paved the way for unanimous All-American Breece Hall, who led the nation in rushing (1,572) and broke the school record for touchdowns in a season with 23 … aided the line in allowing the fewest sacks in the Big 12 with 14.

2019: Redshirted initial collegiate season.

High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … ranked as the No. 68 offensive guard by 247Sports … at top-35 player in the state of Illinois by 247Sports and ESPN … two-time all-state selection … first team Class 7A all-state pick in 2018, leading team to a 9-3 record … team averaged over 50 points a game and reached the state quarterfinals … coached by Darren Sunkett.

Personal: Kinesiology and health and liberal studies major.