Former five-star recruit and Mississippi signee Jeffery Simmons will have to wait on the court's decision stemming from the release of a video allegedly showing him hitting 30-year-old woman several times.
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Simmons, who is facing a simple assault charge, had his court date continued for the second time Tuesday, per WTVA, following the March incident. No new court date has been set.
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After the reported fight occurred in March, MSU took months before announcing Simmons would be allowed to join the team after undergoing counseling and receiving a one-game suspension (against South Alabama, September 3), per a press release.
"Based on conversations our staff has had with school, community and church leaders in Noxubee County, this incident appears to be uncharacteristic of Jeffery," MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said. "It's a highly unique circumstance to administer discipline to a student for an incident that occurred prior to that individual joining our university. However, it's important that Jeffery and other potential MSU students understand that these type of actions and poor decisions are not acceptable.
"We expect the structure and discipline Jeffery will be a part of in our football program to benefit him. Jeffery will be held accountable for his actions while at MSU, and there will be consequences for any future incidents."
Simmons has apologized, via Facebook page, per WCBI in Mississippi, after the incident:
"Decisions, choices, and actions should always be carefully thought through when incidents occur. I take full responsibility for my actions that occurred on Thursday evening. My apology goes out to the Taylor family and especially Sophia Taylor. What was I thinking? Honestly, I wasn't thinking, all I could think was this was my family and I'm supposed to defend my family. Many know my deceased nephews were my pride and joy, I do everything I do in honor of the life they never got to live, and to listen to someone speak so terribly about them really caused me to make choices, decisions, and act in a manor that was out of character for me."
Simmons is still awaiting the decision on his misdemeanor charges stemming from what Mississippi State characterized as a the signee breaking up "a domestic fight." If found guilty, Simmons faces a maximum $500 fine and/or six months in jail.
