Joshua Simon, TE, South Carolina
Size:
Height: 6041
Weight: 239
Arm: 33 ⅞”
Hand: 10 ⅛”
Accomplishments:
Second-Team All-Conference USA (2022) • Third-Team All-Conference USA (2020)
“Joshua Simon is a long-framed tight end with the burst and top-end speed to make big plays down the field and after the catch.”
Strengths:
Vertical impact
Initial burst
Split-zone usage
Catch to attack
Concerns:
Deceleration
Hip sink
In-line blocking
Film Analysis:
Joshua Simon played for Crestwood High School and head coach Roosevelt Nelson and earned a two-star recruit ranking before committing to Western Kentucky University for the 2019 season. Simon appeared in all 13 games for the Hilltoppers, including six starts, and made 30 receptions for 430 yards and four touchdowns. He missed the majority of his junior season after suffering a major knee injury but compiled 1,146 yards on 86 catches with 15 touchdowns across his four years at Western Kentucky before transferring to South Carolina for the final two seasons of his career. He finished his collegiate career with 68 catches for 775 yards and nine touchdowns before declaring for the NFL draft.
Boasting a long frame with huge hands, Simon looks the part of an NFL tight end. He still has room to put some weight on and it shows at the point of attack as an in-line blocker. Adding some muscle and power as a blocker will improve his effectiveness, but he’s a decent split-zone blocker and better on the move in general. Lining up blocks at the next level of the defense is still a work in progress while on the move, but he can be a lead blocker for screens and outside runs. He was asked to pass protect more than expected on play-action throws and got the job done at a good rate.
Simon comes with lineup versatility but was predominantly a detached tight end while at South Carolina, moving out to the slot from time to time. He ran a limited route tree, but was a trusted check-down option for their quarterback, running a ton of split-zone to flat routes. His release burst is good and can threaten the seam quickly for the opposing defense. It also gives him access to a more vertical route tree with impact. Simon doesn’t use much stem manipulation, but he has a useful lateral jab step at the top of routes to move defenders out of the way. He showed the ability to stop in zone and sit down but was very limited in working post-route if the ball wasn’t thrown.
His transitions that require deceleration are more labored because he struggles to sink his hips and get out of his breaks. At the catch point, he regularly attacks the football with his hands, but if there’s contact while making the attempt, he allows it to impact his ability to bring the ball down. Using better timing when looking to match contested catches will improve the percentage he comes down with. After the catch, he’s quick to get upfield. With a head of steam, he becomes difficult to bring down and oftentimes pulls away from incoming defenders with his speed. He won’t force tons of missed tackles, but can break tackles at speed.
Simon projects as a move tight end who can stretch the field vertically, be a seam threat for an offense, and generate some explosives with his speed after the catch. He could develop into a good starter with improved blocking technique and power, a more expansive route tree, and smoothly getting in and out of his breaks.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor
Written By: Daniel Harms
Exposures: Ole Miss (2024), Texas A&M (2024), Oklahoma (2024), Illinois (2024)
