Austin Simmons was supposed to be the next in a line of high-flying Ole Miss QBs to thrive under Lane Kiffin.
The former dual-sport 4-star recruit from Florida waited two years as Jaxson Dart‘s backup before finally winning the starting gig in 2025.
He soon lost that role to an undersized playmaker from Ferris State, Trinidad Chambliss, after a Week 2 injury against Kentucky. As Chambliss forced his way into college football stardom, Simmons found himself back in a backup role, with no hope of winning back his starting spot with the Rebels.
Simmons the College Player
After losing the job to Chambliss in 2025, Simmons looked to find a fresh start, transferring to SEC rival Missouri. Fast forward a full calendar year from the ankle injury that cost him his job, and Simmons is one of the country’s best passers for the Tigers.
He’s top-25 in both passing yards and touchdowns while leading a Missouri passing attack that ranks top-20 nationally in EPA/Dropback and Success Rate. Simmons and his ranked Missouri squad are fresh off a top-10 upset of the Florida Gators in the Swamp. There, he threw for 340 yards on 11+ yards per attempt.
Simmons’ explosive start to the season has caught the attention of not just SEC and college football fans, but pro scouts, too. In a QB class that has grown murkier by the week at the top, a toolsy, hot-handed passer has a major opportunity to throw his name in the ring as a first-round selection.
Simmons the Pro Prospect
Simmons checks a lot of the basic boxes scouts look for in a pro passer. He was a high-profile recruit, brings NFL size at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, and is now stacking productive games in the best conference in America.
On film, the first thing that pops off the screen is his tremendous arm talent. The lefty release can look unorthodox, but the ball jumps off his hand, letting him drive it into tight windows at all three levels of the field.
Additionally, while not a top-tier athlete, he is a more-than-capable runner with the arm elasticity and touch to deliver the ball to his targets on the move.
What has really captured the league’s attention is his ability to operate from the pocket as a traditional dropback passer. In today’s college football, most passers are one-read, tuck-and-run players who struggle with the finer points of being a passer. Despite a lack of starts, Simmons has no trouble smoothly cycling through his reads to the backside of concepts.
Simmons’ talents don’t stop there. He is an accurate passer who understands leverage and how to throw his receivers open. He’s fearless over the middle and can anticipate and attack tight windows in traffic.
Simmons isn’t perfect. He’s still a relatively inexperienced passer with just seven starts to his name. His natural arm talent also leads to some reckless decisions. He will have to prove he can maintain this stellar level of play over a full SEC schedule. But if he does, his talent will make him an easy first-round pick, if not higher, if he continues to show out.
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