ASU in the Pros Series: Seahawks DB Jordan Simone

Often times, the leader of the defense in football is considered to be one of the linebackers who plays a role comparable to that of the quarterback on offense. For Arizona State football in 2014 & 2015; however, this role was filled largely by safety Jordan Simone.

Time at ASU

A native of Sammamish, Wash. Simone transferred to ASU from Washington State University following his Freshman year in 2011. Simone walked on to the team in 2013 but didn’t see the field until his junior season in 2014 where he played a major role in the team’s success.

ASU Stats/Honors

2014: 12 GP, 100 TOT tackles, 1.0 sack, 2 PD, 2 INTs, 1 FF, 2 FR

2015: 10 GP, 91 TOT tackles, 4.0 sacks, 6 PD, 2 INTs

All-PAC 12 Honorable Mention x2 (2014,2015), Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist (2015), Darren Woodson Outstanding Secondary Award x2 (2014, 2015), Team Captain (2015)

Simone led the Sun Devil defense in tackles per game in both seasons that he wore maroon and gold with 8.3 tackles/game in 2014 and 9.1 tackles/game in 2015.

His Sun Devil career was unfortunately cut short when he suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee in the team’s 27-17 comeback win over Washington on November 14, 2015.

The team greatly missed Simone in the following three games as the defense went from allowing an average of 30.7 points/game (including a 3OT loss to Oregon) to an abysmal 42.7 points/game.

Time in the Pros

Simone was not selected by any team in the 2016 NFL Draft largely due to his lack of size and the fact that he was still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered during his senior season.

This past May; however, Simone was invited to Seahawks rookie camp where he impressed enough to earn a spot on the 90-man roster heading into OTAs.

Never short of heart as a Sun Devil, Simone will have to fight harder than he ever has if he wants to earn a spot in the famed Legion of Boom.