Transfer Bio Blast: Derek Simmons

The winter transfer portal window officially opened on Monday. We’ve seen some heavy player movement and are expecting more over the next few days. Teams are working rapidly to get targets on campus for visits over the next few weeks to close these fast-paced recruitments.

Kentucky is working to get a visit scheduled with a graduate offensive line transfer.

Western Carolina tackle Derek Simmons (6-6, 325) entered the transfer portal on Nov. 26 and will be playing for a power conference team in his final season of college football. Will that team be Kentucky?

KSR’s Transfer Bio Blast takes a look at the first known Kentucky offensive line target in college football free agency.

Long collegiate journey

Derek Simmons was unranked high school recruit during the 2020 cycle who began his collegiate career playing for Division II Tusculum. Simmons then moved to the FCS level to play for Abilene Christian where he started at right tackle for the Wildcats and played 600 offensive snaps. However, a coaching change was made at ACU after the season and Simmons entered the transfer portal.

The offensive tackle then moved to Western Carolina where he was forced to sit out the 2022 season due to being a multi-time transfer. In 2023, Simmons started six games at right tackle for head coach Kerwin Bell and offensive coordinator Kade Bell. The latter is now the play-caller at Pittsburgh. As a redshirt senior in 2024, Simmons played 612 offensive snaps spending most of his time at left tackle and also playing some guard.

The transfer with one season of eligibility was a quality starter at tackle for multiple seasons in the FCS but has made a long journey to get to this point.

Pass protection production

Derek Simmons played in an extremely pass-heavy offense at Western Carolina. The Catamounts owned a 58.2 pass play percentage in a tempo offense. That would rank in the top-15 nationally in the FBS. WCU wants to throw and throw again but that requires protection.

Simmons held up well at both right and left tackle in protection.

The transfer allowed just 21 pressures in 947 career pass protection snaps, according to PFF data. That’s a 2.2 percent pressure rate. Kentucky’s starting tackles allowed 56 pressures in 767 pass protection snaps this season. That’s a 7.3 percent pressure rate.

Simmons could fill a big need for the Wildcats.

The FCS transfer only had three penalties in 2024. Kentucky’s starting tackles had 16 total. Simmons played in a zone-heavy run scheme at Western Carolina but protection stood out as his biggest strength.

With positional versatility available, Simmons could check a big need for offensive line coach Eric Wolford. The Wildcats need better protection, must play cleaner, and have to fill multiple roles on the starting unit. Simmons could potentially check all of those boxes.

A competitive recruitment

Derek Simmons brings size, experience, positional versatility, and strong pass protection production to the table. Everyone in college football is looking for improved tackle play. We should expect a competitive recruitment for a player looking to make a big jump from the FCS to the high power conference level.

Contenders are already wedging others out in this recruitment.

Texas Tech (Dec. 9-10), Pittsburgh (Dec. 12-13), and Georgia Tech (TBD) have locked in visits with Simmons. Pitt feels like a school to watch due to his connection with offensive coordinator Kade Bell. The tackle wants to make a decision on Jan. 1. Kentucky will need to make a move quickly.

***UPDATE: Derek Simmons will visit Kentucky from Dec. 16-17.***

Derek Simmons sets Kentucky visit

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