Signing Day Capsule: LB Shayne Simon
SHAYNE SIMON - LINEBACKER
ISD: 4-star
Composite: 4-star
Jersey City, NJ (St. Peter’s Prep)
6-foot-3, 200 pounds
Senior Stats: 52 receptions, 840 receiving yards, 6 receiving TDs, 46 solo tackles, 55 total tackles, 15 TFL, 3 sacks, 5 INTs
Recruiter: Mike Elko/Clark Lea
Recruitment Rundown: Many people pointed to Michigan as the leader for Simon for much of his recruitment, but our sources felt that was overblown and were proven correct when he announced for the Irish on July 25th. Having his St. Peter’s Prep teammates – Jayson and Justin Ademilola – on board certainly helped with the comfort factor, but in the end, Simon made a pair of unofficial visits to South Bend and left believing Notre Dame was the best place for him on and off the field. Academics were important to Simon, who will major in Business, but so was football and multiple people told us the Rover position in Mike Elko’s scheme fit Simon “perfectly.”
St. Peter’s Prep head coach Rich Hansen: “Shayne is special. He can do so many things on the field; he is kind of a one-man personnel package, but the bigger and better thing is that he is a lights-out person; laser focus, knows what he wants, very goal-oriented. He is the leader of our program and he has earned that right and I think he has learned from some really good people, the Brandon Wimbush’s, the Minkah Fitzpatrick’s…I think he has learned from those people.”
ISD expert Jamie Uyeyama: Simon was never going to be a safety at the next level. That has been pretty clear for awhile and was emphasized again after seeing him lined up deep early in the season at St. Peter’s Prep). He makes a much bigger impact playing near the line of scrimmage.
That’s not a surprise to anyone who has followed him as a recruit, but I think it’s worth mentioning again because I know at least one service still has him ranked as a safety. He is going to come in at Rover for Notre Dame and it really is a great fit because of what his high school program already asks him to do. It’s very similar to what he will be doing for the Irish in Elko’s defense. I saw a lot of plays from him as a senior that reinforce that he can be a great perimeter defender run and pass defender. He diagnoses things quickly when lined up outside and does a great job of slipping blocks.
Woolhorn - Home of the Official Play Like a Champion Sport Coat, worn each and every Saturday by your Fighting Irish. Get the perfect Irish gift at www.woolhorn.com