Central DE changes route, has All-Star start at UCA

CONWAY -- A year ago, Dalvin Simmons was all set to drive three hours to Fayetteville for a weekend football camp at the University of Arkansas.

Then his coach, Little Rock Central's Ellis "Scooter" Register, suggested he instead head to a camp about 30 minutes away at the University of Central Arkansas.

Simmons, a three-year starter at defensive end for the Tigers, was a bit confused by his coach's suggestion.

"I remember thinking I should go to the Fayetteville camp more," Simmons said.

Simmons followed his coach's advice, though, and tonight he'll be back on the purple-and-gray turf at Estes Stadium playing for the East team in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star football game.

It won't be the last time Simmons plays there, either. He ended up signing a letter of intent to play for the Bears, thanks in part to Register's suggestion last summer. Register said he steered Simmons to Conway in hopes that he would get noticed rather than get lost in a the shuffle at a bigger camp in Fayetteville.

Register described Simmons as the Tigers' defensive play-maker last season, when he had 84 tackles and eight sacks and was named to the All-Metro team by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

" I just thought it was a lot better opportunity for him," Register said of his suggestion to attend UCA's camp. "If you're good enough to play at the next level, they'll find you."

UCA may have discovered Simmons that weekend, but the process of getting an offer from the Bears was far from complete.

Simmons had orally committed to Southern Arkansas -- it was his only scholarship offer at the time -- but he wasn't crazy about the two-hour drive between home and Magnolia.

Clint Conque, UCA's former coach, never called with an offer. He left in December for Stephen F. Austin, but Simmons didn't hear right away from Conque's replacement, either.

It wasn't until Feb. 1 -- four days before national signing day -- that UCA Coach Steve Campbell called and asked Simmons to visit campus. Simmons and his father, Doug, went to Conway the next day and Campbell offer a scholarship.

Simmons learned that day that the impression he made on UCA defensive line coach Dan Augustine -- who was on Conque's staff and was retained by Campbell -- during the camp eventually led to the scholarship offer.

" He was getting on me at the camp," Simmons said. "He was just yelling, telling me to do stuff."

Campbell also had a clear message for Simmons when they met. UCA was offering him a scholarship, but he had work to do in the classroom. Simmons signed with the Bears four days later, and Doug Simmons said this week that his son carried a 3.5 grade-point average through his senior year and will be eligible to play for the Bears as a freshman.

"If you put your mind to it, anything can happen," Doug Simmons said.

Now Simmons has one last chance to impress his future coaches before taking the field in the fall with the Bears.

"I just want to have a good week," he said. "The UCA coaches, they'll be here. I'm just trying to show them I can play."

Sports on 06/27/2014