2026: Transfer quarterback Austin Simmons has been elite for the Tigers in 2026 … 5-1 as the Tigers’ starting QB … Completing 64.8 percent (107 of 165) of his passes for 1,434 yards (239.0 YPG) and 14 touchdowns against just a single tipped interception … Ranks 25th nationally in passing efficiency (164.6), 12th in touchdown passes (14), 31st in pass yards per attempt (8.69) and 26th in passing yards (1,434) … His 14 touchdowns also rank second in the SEC … Has a 87.5 grade by Pro Football Focus to rank 10th nationally among Power 4 teams and fourth in the SEC (min. 125 attempts), 115.0 NFL QBR that ranks 15th nationally and second in the SEC … 34 explosive pass plays (15+ yards) in six games on 107 completions (1 every 3.1 attempts) … Elite on third down, passing for 466 yards on 57 third-down tries … Completed 33 passes on third down with 26 first down conversions and eight touchdowns (one every 7.1 attempts) … Earned Davey O’Brien Great 8 and Manning Stars of the Week in week two vs. Kansas and week five against Florida … Named the Davey O’Brien Award National Player of the Week vs. the Gators and Co-SEC Offensive Player of the Week … Leads an offense that is averaging 278.4 passing yards per game, 37.6 points per game and 447.0 yards of total offense (25th nationally). Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Turned in one of the best quarterback debuts in school history with 252 yards passing and four touchdowns … Completed 17-of-19 passes for a 89.5 percent completion percentage, which is the best in a QB debut in school history and the third best among all QBs in school history … Simmons’ 270.4 passer efficiency rating was the second highest in a game in program history. Kansas: Made his first road start at Mizzou, turning in a standout performance with 292 passing yards and three scores … Earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance … Completed 19-of-29 passes and posted a 184.2 passer rating … Was 8 of 12 on third down for 128 yards with seven first downs and all three passing touchdowns on third down … Produced seven explosive throws of 15-plus yards, including a season long 65-yard strike to Donovan Olugbode … Averaged 10.1 yards per 29 attempts and 15.4 yards per completion. Troy: Completed 11-of-20 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown … Did not throw and interceptions. Mississippi State: Threw for a season-high 295 yards on 23-of-39 passing … Turned in his third game with at least three passing touchdowns with connections of 9, 21 and 28 yards … 7-of-11 passing on third down for 88 yards and four first downs … Connected on four explosive plays. Florida: Named the Davey O’Brien Award National Player of the Week vs. the Gators and Co-SEC Offensive Player of the Week … Threw for a season-best 340 yards while completing 76.7 percent of his passes … Connected on two more touchdown passes to give him 13 on 137 attempts this season … Posted a 193.9 collegiate passer rating with zero interceptions and now ranks 11th nationally at 178.1 on the season … Completed 9-of-13 passes for 96 yards on third down, converting six third downs (five passing) … Accounted for eight explosive pass plays with connections … PFF graded him at 89.3 vs. the Gators with seven “big-time throws” and zero turnover worthy plays. Texas A&M: Threw a touchdown in his sixth straight game for the Tigers … Was 14-of-28 passing for 147 yards and a TD … Threw his first interception of the season on a tipped pass on the first drive … Had four explosive completions with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Cayden Lee … did not take a sack … rushed four times for 24 yards.
Prior to Mizzou:
2025 (Ole Miss): Simmons played in eight games for the Rebels, including starts in the first two contests of the season … Injured his ankle in the second game of the season and was limited throughout the month of September … Completed 60 percent of his passes (45 of 75) on the season for 744 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions … Also rushed 22 times for 98 yards, not counting the five sacks for minus-25 yards. Georgia State: Completed 20-of-31 passes in his season-opening start against the Panthers for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Kentucky: Started and went 13-of-24 for 235 yards and two interceptions against the Wildcats. Arkansas: Came off the bench to throw a touchdown. Oklahoma: Missed on his only two pass attempts vs. the Sooners. The Citadel: Completed 7-of-12 passes for 100 yards and an interception … Rushed four times for eight yards. Florida: Played but did not attempt a pass. Tulane: Threw for 64 yards off the bench in the CFP quarterfinal game vs. the Green Wave … Completed 4-of-5 passes … Credited with two rushes for minus-6 yards with a long rush of two yards. 2024 (Ole Miss): Appeared in nine games as Ole Miss’ backup quarterback … Went 19-of-32 (59.4 percent) passing on the year for 282 yards and two touchdowns … Also rushed five times for 14 yards. Furman: Went 7-of-16 passing for 111 yards and a touchdown. Middle Tennessee: Went 2-of-4 passing for 20 yards in 13 snaps. Georgia Southern: Went 1-for-1 passing for six yards in four snaps. Arkansas: Went 3-for-3 passing for 47 yards and one touchdown, helped Rebels break or tie single-game team passing records in yards (562) and touchdowns (7). Georgia: Came off the bench for crucial first quarter drive, went 5-of-6 for 64 yards and led Rebels to the endzone … at Florida (11/23/24): Played three snaps, went 0-for-1 passing. Duke: Completed the final pass of the game, a 34-yard connection to Jordan Smart, to seal Ole Miss’ Gator Bowl victory. 2023 (Ole Miss): Did not appear in any games for the Rebels and was redshirted … Member of the 2022-23 signing class.
HIGH SCHOOL: Reclassified from the 2025 class to the 2023 class … A consensus four-star quarterback prospect by ESPN, On3, Rivals and 247Sports Composite … Ranked 77th nationally by ESPN in the 2025 class but reclassified to the 2023 class … Rated as the No. 156 player in the country and No. 10 quarterback by Rivals … Also listed as the No. 52 recruit in the state of Florida by On3 … Passed for 3,253 yards and 27 touchdowns as a sophomore for Pahokee HS … Served as team captain in 2022-23 and was a two-time all-state selection … Appeared in six games as a freshman, throwing for 1,913 yards and 15 TDs … A two-sport athlete, Simmons also starred on the diamond tossing back-to-back no hitters as a freshman and hit .365 as a sophomore … Chose Ole Miss over Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and others … Coached by Emmanuel Hendrix … Athletic Director's Honor Roll in spring 2025 … Graduated with a degree in multi-disciplinary studies in May 2025.
PERSONAL: Full name is Austin David Simmons … Born Nov. 8, 2005 … Son of David Simmons and Faye Fernander … Athletic Director's Honor Roll in spring 2025 … Graduated with a degree from Ole Miss in multi-disciplinary studies in May 2025.