Highly recruited safety Brandon Simmons saw Coach Bret Bielema's move from Wisconsin to Arkansas as a step up.
"He went to the SEC so that's the premier conference in NCAA football," Simmons said. "Arkansas has been down for a couple of years but they've always been a great contender in the SEC. So I guess he looks at it as a rebuilding thing and he can be the guy to rebuild it."
Simmons, 6-0, 180, 4.5 seconds in the 40 yard dash, Mansfield, Texas Timberview reports 41 scholarship offers, including Arkansas , Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU and Michigan. Cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson is recruiting him.
"I've talked to him over the phone a couple of times and the rest through Facebook," Simmons said. "He wanted me to come to their junior day but me and my parents haven't decided yet."
Simmons said he hopes to visit Arkansas for a spring practice to see how the coaching staff interacts with the players. Johnson has made a favorable impression.
"I think he's a real nice guy," said Simmons, who ranks 23rd in a class of 413 with a 98 average on a 100-point scale. "I feel like he would take care of me if I went down there. Just off the first impression, he was really interested in me."
On video, Simmons shows the ability to support the run and excellent coverage skills that makes him one of the elite recruits in the country.
As of now, Simmons has one visit planned.
"The only one I know for sure is Stanford and that's in April." Simmons said.
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