STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University announced Thursday that Jeffery Simmons has enrolled at the university and will be allowed to play football, under conditions, including being suspended for the first game of his career.
Simmons, a former Noxubee County High School football player, was arrested by the Macon Police Department in March and charged with simple assault and disturbing the peace after a video surfaced that appears to show him standing over a woman punching at her head while she is on the ground.
Simmons is slated to appear in Macon Municipal Court on June 14. Simple assault and disturbing the peace are misdemeanors. They each carry a maximum possible penalty of six months in jail and a $500 fine.
MSU issued a media release Thursday saying Simmons — a five-star defensive lineman — will be evaluated by licensed professionals at the university’s Student Counseling Services and will be required to complete any programs prescribed by that office.
“Based on conversations our staff has had with school, community and church leaders in Noxubee County, this incident appears to be uncharacteristic of Jeffery,” MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said in the release. “It’s a highly unique circumstance to administer discipline to a student for an incident that occurred prior to that individual joining our university. However, it’s important that Jeffery and other potential MSU students understand that these type of actions and poor decisions are not acceptable.”
Stricklin said the university expects Simmons to benefit from the football program’s structure and discipline.
“Jeffery will be held accountable for his actions while at MSU,” he added, “and there will be consequences for any future incidents.”
MSU head football coach Dan Mullen was not quoted in the release. He could not be reached for comment.
Addressing media members at the Southeastern Conference spring meetings in Destin, Florida, Thursday, Stricklin spoke for about 15 minutes on the Simmons situation. He said the university could receive feedback from the evaluation to adjust the punishment if need be and they debated all sorts of punishment, ranging from none to not allowing him enroll.
Stricklin asked reporters if Simmons’ life trajectory should change because of “five seconds of a bad decision” was caught on tape.
“The sense was this was a parking lot fight that got out of control, which is why he’s not being changed with domestic violence or sexual assault,” Stricklin said. “That doesn’t make it OK. But it makes it a unique situation.”
Reporters pointed out that Simmons got the same punishment as someone ejected for violating the NCAA’s targeting rule.
“That’s an interesting way of putting it,” Stricklin said. “That’s not how we compared it.”
“I think you’re trying to be fair to the young person and at the same time understand they made a mistake and they’ve got to deal with the consequences,” Stricklin said.
Speaking with CBSSports.com, MSU President Dr. Mark Keenum said he had complete trust in Stricklin and the athletic department on the decision.
“I think his statement, if you read it, speaks for itself,” Keenum said.
Simmons, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end, led Noxubee County to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A State championship in December. He is one of the top-rated recruits out of Mississippi to sign this year.
MSU’s football team reports for preseason camp August 1 and begins practice August 2. The team opens the season Sept. 3 against South Alabama.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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