Former five-star recruit and Mississippi signee Jeffery Simmons is facing a simple assault charges following the release of a video that allegedly shows the commit hitting a 30-year-old woman several times, per The Dispatch.
Videos by FanBuzz
Related: Baylor just can't get anything right
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."
Following the announcement, media personalities crushed the decision by MSU, especially in the wake of the Baylor debacle.
So, that seems like a pretty light statement by MSU on Jeffery Simmons. One whole game. For repeatedly hitting a woman. Okey dokey, then…
— Sam R. Hall (@samrhall) June 2, 2016
Absolutely despicable that Mississippi State would allow Jeffery Simmons to enroll https://t.co/lqLyl0l4m5
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) June 2, 2016
MSU is in a bad spot. Punish lightly and receive public outrage or punish heavy and risk Simmons airing some recruiting laundry
— RecruitThis (@RecruitThis10) June 2, 2016
Mississippi State allows Jeffery Simmons to enroll--Really trying to grasp this. The video of him is appalling https://t.co/qQvaZLADUn
— Edward Aschoff (@AschoffESPN) June 2, 2016
Wow, just a 1-game suspension for Mississippi State enrollee Jeffrey Simmons. If only there were video of him pummeling that woman. Oh wait
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) June 2, 2016
From Simmons's Facebook page, via WCBI in Mississippi, the signee apologized 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.
