Syracuse Football: Get To Know Your Orange Man - #41 Donnie Simmons

Today's "Get to Know..." takes a look at one of the many pass rushers who looks to plug the rather large, first-round-pick-quality hole in our defense left by Chandler Jones. Let's learn something about Donnie Simmons, shall we?

Position: Defensive End

Year: Redshirt Freshman

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 226 pounds

Hometown: Hartsdale, NY

High School: Archbishop Stepinac

2011 Stats: None, he redshirted last season.

2012 Projections: Donnie was an excellent pass rusher in high school, and he should definitely be in the mix for playing time this fall. Without Chandler Jones and Mikhail Marinovich, there is a lot of playing time available for a pass rusher like Simmons, although beating out incoming players like Marcus Pierce-Brewster and veterans like Brandon Sharpe will prove to be a tall order.

How'd He Get Here?: He's a New York kid. Doug Marrone likes him some New York kids. Also, his other offer was Akron. Not a terribly difficult decision.

Scout/Rivals Said: Three and two stars respectively for Donnie.

Money Quote: The full article is behind the Scout paywall, but the blurb says that Simmons says that a great pass rusher must have a "Full Metal Jacket" mentality. Here's to hoping that Donnie doesn't go all Gomer Pyle on us at some point.

Links of Wonder: Donnie Simmons' high school coach Mike O'Donnell is a big Donnie Simmons fan.

Doug Marrone Thinks: ...enough of Donnie to list him as a starting defensive end on the post-Spring depth chart. With all of the injuries and incoming players, expect that whole chart to get a nice shake-up come week one.

Interesting Nugget O'Interest: Simmons is a bit of a freak athlete. In a game against Christ the King and future teammate Terrel Hunt, Simmons not only tormented Hunt in the backfield, but ran a kick back 85 yards for a touchdown en route to a 45-12 victory.

Let Us Get a Good Look Atchya: No words...

Donnie Dorm Linebacker (via nubsparky)