• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

LB John Simon - (2012 B1G DPOY, Super Bowl Champ)

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012
OSU senior defensive end a 'workout warrior'
By Doug Harris

Staff Writer

Ohio_St_DLine_Football.JPEG.JPG

Jay LaPrete
John Simon?s intensity on the football field is renowned, and the senior defensive end approaches weightlifting with that same frenzied attitude.


COLUMBUS ?

Zach Boren and his other workout partners always pushed themselves to exhaustion at the end of their weightlifting sessions in the offseason, grabbing 50-pound barbells in each hand and doing multiple sets of curls.

But if the Ohio State fullback and his mates wanted to feel good about themselves, they probably shouldn?t have been pumping iron with John Simon in the room.

?We?ll be curling 50 pounds ? and it?s hard because your arms are dead,? Boren said. ?And John will give out a big yell and call us names and pull out the 80?s and start doing bicep curls, rubbing it in our face.?

Simon?s intensity on the football field is renowned, and the senior defensive end approaches weightlifting with that same frenzied attitude.

His father, also named John, was a longtime body-builder, and the Buckeyes? third-team All-American was doing squats and bench-presses by the time he was in fourth grade.

?My father gave me a little routine. I think I bugged him enough that he finally caved in and started letting me do some things here and there,? Simon said.

?By eighth grade, they were pretty full-fledged routines. I think I was going five days a week. I enjoyed it. I didn?t have to be motivated too much. I would always tag along with my dad and work out.?

The Youngstown Cardinal Mooney product is now one of the strongest players in college football ? and maybe at any level of the sport. He recently did 38 reps with 225 pounds in the bench press.

?Just seeing body changes and strength changes is very motivating, and seeing you can improve yourself through dedication kept me coming back for more,? he said.

cont...
Click to expand...

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/sports/college/buckeyes-simon-a-workout-warrior/nRHjw/
 
Upvote 0
ESPN Pre-season All American Team

John Simon
Defensive end | Ohio State

ncf_simon_sy_576.jpg


The Buckeyes aren't short on talent up front, but it's the versatility of the tireless, relentless senior that might make their line the best in the country. John Simon can fill multiple positions on the line, supplying extra depth on his own thanks to a 260-pound frame of solid muscle that allows him to go inside and a nonstop motor that helped produce 16 tackles for loss as a junior on the outside. Perhaps even more valuable to Urban Meyer this fall? Simon is just the seventh two-time captain in Buckeyes history and is determined to leave a winning legacy.

-- Austin Ward
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
Meyer finds a new kindred spirit
Workaholic John Simon has become one of OSU coach's favorite Buckeyes
Aug 30, 2012
Written by
Jon Spencer
CentralOhio.com

COLUMBUS -- It's right there on the record, for the entire college football world to see.

As outlandish as it may sound, Urban Meyer called Ohio State defensive end John Simon "Tebow-ish."

Given Meyer's history with 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow at Florida, where they won national championships together in 2006 and 2008, it's probably the highest compliment Meyer can pay a Buckeye -- short of calling him the second coming of Archie Griffin.

At one time, Simon might have become the second coming of Tebow.

Simon was a quarterback until his sophomore year at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown. Then he outgrew the position and practically every gym in his hometown.

"I thought I was a passer," the 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior said, "but there's no way."

Instead, he has a chance to be a passer's worst nightmare, and a consensus All-American, and the face of the Ohio State defense after leading the Buckeyes with seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss last year.

Which brings us back to "Tebow-ish."

Meyer now regrets saying it.

"I should say Tebow is Simon-ish, just out of respect," Meyer said, smiling. "He's got incredible character. He's got a job with me anytime he wants. I hope he plays football for 20 years and then says, 'Coach, I need a job.' He's trustworthy, passionate, one of the best guys I've ever met."

cont...
Click to expand...

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20120830/SPORTS/208300336
 
Upvote 0
No rest for Ohio State's John Simon, even on Christmas
By Michael Periatt
[email protected]
Updated: Friday, August 31, 2012

3727962446.jpg

Cody Cousino / Multimedia editor
OSU defensive end John Simon, then a junior, rushes Akron quarterback Clayton Moore during a Sept. 3 game at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes won, 42-0.

At the end of arm workouts, the Ohio State football players do bicep curls until their arms, already exhausted from hours of pushing, pulling and lifting heavy amounts of weight, physically cannot lift anymore.

Senior fullback Zach Boren is like most players: he grabs 50-pound dumbbells and cranks out as many reps as he can.

Then Boren looks over at fellow senior, defensive end John Simon.

Simon, who has the 80-pound dumbbells, is blowing through reps at a furious rate and shows no signs of stopping.

?John will give out a big yell, call us some names and pull out the 80?s and start rubbing it in our faces,? Boren said.

Even among a group of elite Division I athletes, the hulking senior defensive lineman stands out.

That has always been the narrative when it comes to Simon. He has developed a reputation for being one of, if not the strongest, players in the Big Ten, a conference known for strength above all else.

Perhaps the only thing more freakish than Simon?s strength though, is the work ethic he has used to accomplish it.

No days off

cont..
Click to expand...

http://www.thelantern.com/sports/no...imon-even-on-christmas-1.2889559#.UECmSJZ62So
 
Upvote 0
Overrated-Underrated: Buckeyes' John Simon
Our NFL scout breaks down the film on the D-Lineman. Russ Lande
September 05, 2012

Every college football season players are often viewed in a drastically different light by the media than they are by me and NFL scouts. So throughout the 2012 college football season I will take a look at one player each week that is either over-rated or under-rated based on my film study and what I am hearing from NFL scouts. I am starting in the Big Ten Conference because I believe that Ohio State defensive lineman John Simon is one of the most under-rated players in the country.

John-Simon.jpg

US PRESSWIRE
Ohio State's John Simon is one of the most 'underrated' players in the country.

John Simon, DE/DT, Ohio State
Height: 6015
Weight: 260
40 time: 4.80 (Estimated)
Click to expand...

Simon is never going to remind anyone of Dwight Freeney as he lacks that rare first step explosiveness to threaten the corner as a speed rusher. However, he has been a consistently productive pass rusher while lining up in a variety of spots. Unlike the majority of college pass rushers, Simon does an excellent job of maintain good leverage and pad level during rush and has outstanding hand-use/technique to keep the offensive tackle from getting ahold of him. His natural feel for rushing the passer shows up in the timing and variety of his pass rush moves as he consistently is able to beat the offensive tackle inside with a quick spin move or can get to corner, dips shoulder and rips through the attempted block to turn corner.

Many times defensive ends with elite athleticism are not consistently productive because they do not have good technique or pass rush aggressively every snap. This is where Simon is able to separate himself. Once the ball is snapped, Simon attacks the blocker with rare aggressiveness and plays like ?his hair is on fire.? Although he primarily plays with a ?hand on the ground? in a three point stance, he has experience lining up in a stand-up outside linebacker alignment, so he is not completely foreign to that if a team that plays a 34 defense would want him to play there. He rarely was asked to drop off the ball into coverage in the games I evaluated, but the athleticism he displayed while playing the run and rushing the passer make me confident that he can at least be solid in short area coverage.

Unlike many highly productive college pass rushers, Simon is even better playing the run. For a 260 pounder his ability to maintain good base and get a good ?fit? vs. offensive line run blocks helps him to consistently play strong at the point of attack. His good hand use also helps him to shed run blocks to make tackles on running plays to his side of the field consistently. Additionally, when offenses either leave him unblocked or try to ?reach block? him with a tight end on the backside, he gets started down the line fast and has the speed to chase down plays in pursuit with ease.

Simon is not the physical specimen who is going to challenge to be a first round pick, but he is far better than he has been given credit for. I am confident that if he stays healthy throughout the 2012 season he will likely end up being a second or third round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. In addition to having the competitiveness and mentality that NFL teams love, Simon?s versatility gives him real draft value. In today?s NFL where nearly half the teams play a 34 defense, Simon will be viewed as a good outside linebacker conversion prospect. While those teams that play a 43 scheme will look at him as a strong-side defensive end. Helping Simon to contribute early in his NFL career while he learns and adjusts to playing defense in the NFL, is his mentality and competitiveness which will lead to him being a productive member of special teams coverage units.
Click to expand...

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/OverratedUnderrated-Buckeyes-John-Simon-2872.html
 
Upvote 0
DE Simon sets example
Senior plays through shoulder pain to help Buckeyes hang on for victory
Updated: September 16, 2012
By Austin Ward | BuckeyeNation

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The physical tank was already empty.

Injured more seriously than anybody was aware of heading into the game, John Simon first refused to let a sore shoulder keep him off the field and then wouldn't allow it to limit his ability to impact the outcome.

But emotionally, the senior still had something left to give in the locker room after Ohio State escaped with a 35-28 win over California on Saturday. And with tears in his eyes, Simon drained what he had left in reserve with a heartfelt, impassioned speech to the Buckeyes that left little doubt about why he's a two-time captain.

ncf_u_jsimon_dj_200.jpg

Phil Sears/US Presswire
Senior captain John Simon showed why he's the heart and soul of the Buckeyes' defense.

"He opened his heart and poured it out to us," safety Christian Bryant said. "John Simon is the heart and soul of the defense right now.

"He gives us everything he has each and every week, in practice each and every day. He's one of those guys that never stops going."

cont..
Click to expand...

http://espn.go.com/colleges/osu/foo...njury-de-john-simon-leads-ohio-state-buckeyes

Ohio State notebook: John Simon’s emotional speech inspires Buckeyes

By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports columnist
Published: September 15, 2012

COLUMBUS: Ohio State senior defensive lineman John Simon’s postgame speech was so stirring that coach Urban Meyer vowed to name his next child after him.

The co-captain addressed the team after a 35-28 victory over the University of California Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Simon had battled a shoulder injury all week and although trainers kept telling Meyer that he should be fine, it didn’t heal as quickly as they had hoped.

Yet Simon played anyway, finishing with one tackle for loss and a sack.

“He just lost it in the locker room as far as just sharing, opening up his soul,” Meyer said. “It makes us all look in the mirror and say, ‘Are we doing enough for our team?’

“Can you put a jersey up there or something that says John Simon, because that’s a grown-ass man, excuse my language. If we have another child, I want to name him Urban John Simon Meyer or something. That’s how much I love that guy.”

Simon joked about the improbability of another Meyer child.

“That’s between him and Shelley,” Simon said of Meyer’s wife. “I don’t know if he’s planning on having another son, but that’s all in the family.”

Simon said he had never been as emotional after a game before and realized his speech took some teammates by surprise.

“I try to say things that are important and if I don’t have anything I feel is very important to say, I probably won’t say it,” he said. “That means when you speak, everyone listens. I didn’t mean to come out like that so much. But all the emotion that went into that game, I wanted to tell them how I felt.

“It was a tough thing all week dealing with it. I tried to get as much rehab as I could to make sure I was good to go. With the players and the coaches trusting in me that I could get my job done, I was blessed to be put out on the field today.”

Simon’s speech inspired many Buckeyes.

“It’s something I know I’ll never forget,” junior left tackle Jack Mewhort said.

Sophomore receiver Devin Smith said Simon cried.

“You love that guy. It motivates me, seeing a guy who’s going to play in the NFL and the way he works,” Smith said. “I want to emulate some of the things he does so I can make it there.”
Click to expand...

http://www.ohio.com/sports/osu/ohio...s-emotional-speech-inspires-buckeyes-1.334997

Bumps and bruises: Simon plays hurt
September, 15, 2012
By Austin Ward | ESPN.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A defensive line that was already banged up was close to another significant absence.

John Simon wasn't going to allow that to happen if he could help it.

The Ohio State senior was apparently close to missing Saturday's 35-28 win over California with a shoulder injury that hadn't previously been disclosed -- an issue that surprised even coach Urban Meyer with its severity after assuming all throughout practice this week that Simon would be ready to go.

"He almost didn't play, and I didn't know that because they told me all week he should be fine," Meyer said. "He didn't practice much because of a sore shoulder -- no ligament damage or anything like that.

"When you say sore, for most human beings they're probably up in the Ohio State Medical Center, but that's how tough he is."

Simon might have shown a softer side, though, after he battled his way though the game and picked up his first sack of the season.

The two-time captain offered an impassioned speech to the Buckeyes when it was all over in the locker room, only adding to his reputation as a leader respected by his teammates -- and his new coach.

"Mark that down, you can put a jersey up there or something that says John Simon because that's a grown-a-- man," Meyer said. "If we have another child, I want to name him Urban John Simon Meyer or something like that.

"That's how much I love the guy. I'm not ashamed to say I love him -- love that guy."
Click to expand...

http://espn.go.com/blog/colleges/osu/post?id=2891
John Simon's impact not found on stat sheet
Sep 16, 2012
Written by
Jon Spencer
CentralOhio.com

On a weekend when Ohio State inducted Bobby Knight into its Hall of Fame, coach Urban Meyer paid tribute to another ornery cuss.

On a weekend when no one on defense deserved a game ball, Meyer wanted to retire a jersey.

On a weekend when the Buckeyes had almost as many personal fouls as quarterback sacks, Meyer wanted to talk about emotional impact, not physical impact.

That's the kind of profound effect senior captain John Simon has had on Meyer and, apparently, had on the Buckeyes despite a well-concealed shoulder injury in their wild 35-28 victory over Cal on Saturday.

"Can you put a (No. 54) jersey up there (on the facing of the Ohio Stadium stands, with other luminaries) or something that says John Simon because that's a grown-(bleep) man ... excuse my language," Meyer said. "That's a guy."

Meyer got choked up talking about how Simon got choked up addressing the team after an ugly win that figured to get a rise out of the head coach for different reasons.

cont...
Click to expand...

http://www.marionstar.com/article/20120916/SPORTS/209160334
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
OregonBuckeye;2216107; said:
If anyone ever deserved to be part of a national championship team, it's him. Damn shame he won't get that chance.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

However...

It would be great, and also quite fulfilling, if John was on our sideline next season as we play for the MNC game in January 2014.

Seeing Eddie on the sideline vs. scUM south was awesome but he was beyond removed from that team emotionally. This would be an entirely different story.

Yes, I am predicting next season.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top