Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin ‘lead the way’ for a 2027 SEC legacy whose father is close with a Rebels assistant
Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) safety Kenneth Simon II recently spoke with Rivals’ Chad Simmons. And he revealed which school has an early lead “for now”.“I loved it there,” Simon said. “The vibe with coach Shoop was great. I ate dinner with him, met his kids, and the staff made me feel like a friend. The facilities […]
Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) safety Kenneth Simon II recently spoke with Rivals’ Chad Simmons. And he revealed which school has an early lead “for now”.
“I loved it there,” Simon said. “The vibe with coach Shoop was great. I ate dinner with him, met his kids, and the staff made me feel like a friend. The facilities are nice, but what stood out was how comfortable they made me feel. My dad and Coach Shoop are tight, so there’s already a connection.”
The four-star junior recruit is ranked No. 36 nationally at his position and currently holds 20-plus offers. Four Power 4 programs are enticing the 6-foot-2, 190 pound prospect early: Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. The latter hitting a little more close to home than the others.
His father, Kevin Simon, played linebacker at Tennessee. The Vols hope to keep him in-state and to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
Kenneth Simon II spoke with Chad Simmons about the connection he has to the Tennessee program.
“To get the Tennessee offer felt good,” Simon told Rivals. “I’ve always been a fan growing up. My dad went there, and that is great, but he wants me to go where it’s best for me. I’ve been to Tennessee five times, and being able to imagine myself in that spot is something I’ve dreamed about.
“Coach Inge is my lead recruiter and he is a great coach. He had good linebackers last season and he feels this year they could be even better. Tennessee is definitely a school up there for me.”
But, for now it seems another SEC program has an advantage thanks to another connection.
Simon tells Simmons Ole Miss currently leads the way after taking a June 20 visit to Oxford, Miss., to meet with the staff, scope out campus and the facilities.
“I loved it there,” Simon said. “The vibe with coach (Jay) Shoop was great. I ate dinner with him, met his kids, and the staff made me feel like a friend. The facilities are nice, but what stood out was how comfortable they made me feel. My dad and Coach Shoop are tight, so there’s already a connection.”
Simon will be incredibly busy this summer. And not just with his junior year. He has game day visits scheduled for LSU at Clemson, Georgia at Tennessee, LSU at Ole Miss, and Southern Cal at Notre Dame. If it likes the vibe and feels like he’s ready to pull the trigger for a commitment, he tells Simmons he won’t wait.
“If it becomes obvious where I want to go, I’ll commit this year,” he said. “If not, I’ll take my time. I want a prestigious coaching staff, a position coach who believes in me, and a place where I can either play early or learn that first year.”