Derek Simmons brings proven pass protection and SEC-ready size to Oklahoma
Simmons looks like a plug-and-play **right tackle** for Oklahoma: a 6-5, 317-pound redshirt senior with a track record of reliability, including 612 snaps in 2024 at Western Carolina and no sacks allowed in 417 pass-blocking snaps. He stood out in the FCS with strong PFF grades and just 1 sack plus 2 quarterback hits allowed across 947 pass-protection snaps, which is exactly the kind of clean edge work Big 12/SEC teams covet. The main question is durability, after an injury-shortened 2023 and missed time in 2025, but when healthy he profiles as a steady, physical, technically sound starter.[1][3][5][11][12]
