Add another name to the list of players the Iowa Western football program has sent on to NCAA Division I teams. Reiver center Eric Simmons received and accepted a scholarship offer from Iowa on Thursday, becoming the seventh IWCC player to leave for an FBS school this year.
Six signed in December on the first day of the open signing period for mid-year transfers from junior colleges. At least one other, defensive tackle Stetzon Bair, is expected to sign in February.
The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Simmons was an all-state lineman for Class A power Madrid, Iowa, in high school. He became a starter and a first-team all-conference selection in his only season at Iowa Western.
Simmons, who has three years of college eligibility remaining, messaged a thank you to his family, friends and IWCC via Facebook Thursday afternoon, stating, “Can't wait to get the paperwork done and officially become an Iowa Hawkeye!”
Also a second-team all-academic selection in the Midwest Football Conference, Simmons became the second Reiver lineman to sign with Iowa in the past two years. Former Iowa Western guard Dan Heiar joined the Hawkeyes in early 2011 but was injured in an auto accident and eventually left the team.
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