Brandon Simmons Brandon Simmons 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Glassboro | 2026 State NJ from Glassboro is a name everyone knows by now—and for good reason. Coming off a monster year with 20 sacks and 122 tackles, he’s shown explosive first‑step quickness, power, and refined technique on the interior. Now committed to Eastern Michigan, Simmons is primed to close out his senior season with another dominant campaign and could easily lead New Jersey in sacks again.

Brandon Simmons Brandon Simmons 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Glassboro | 2026 State NJ from Glassboro has committed to Eastern Michigan. The reigning New Jersey Athletics Defensive Player of the Year is a disruptive force on the interior. At 6’1”, 260, he plays with natural leverage, quick hands, and explosive get-off—a big-time addition to EMU’s defensive front.

Brandon Simmons Brandon Simmons 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Glassboro | 2026 State NJ earns the superlative for Best Pass Rusher. At 6’2”, 260 pounds, he brings an elite mix of power and athleticism to the edge. His tape shows a deep arsenal of pass-rush moves, making him one of the most advanced rushers in this class. He can transition seamlessly from a bull rush to a spin move, though he primarily relies on power rather than finesse. His hand usage stands out, as does his ability to generate leverage from his thick lower body.

One of his most dangerous traits is his first-step quickness. His burst off the line immediately puts offensive linemen on their heels, setting him up for success as an interior or edge pass rusher. Simmons has been a significant name in recruiting circles, earning offers from Miami, West Virginia, Charlotte, and Temple. Expect his stock to keep rising as his recruitment continues to heat up.

122 tackles (73 solo), 34 tackles for loss, 20 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 school & score

13-0 team record
87.29 Strength Index
59.74 Opponents’ Strength Index
#1 seed in South, Group I
Group I State Champion

Best game: 8 tackles (6 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 6 sacks in 34-0 victor vs. Woodbury

Worst game: 7 tackles (4 solo), 2 tackles for loss in 51-0 victory vs. Deptford

Big-time players make big-time plays. That is what Brandon Simmons Brandon Simmons 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Glassboro | 2026 State NJ continued to do against Cedar Grove. In this contest Simmons recorded 3 tackles – 2 of which went for sacks.

The standout interior lineman finished ths year with 122 tackles (73 solo) with 34 tackles for loss, 20 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 scoop and score. With another season to play in his career, Simmons has been credited with 254 tackles (167 solo), 77 tackles for loss, 40 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 5 fumble recoveries, and 3 scoop & scores.

I could have highlighted any player that stepped on the field for Glassboro Friday night. The offense was on fire from the start, with Xavier Sabb Xavier Sabb 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Glassboro | 2027 State NJ and Kenny Smith Kenny Smith 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Glassboro | 2025 State NJ both scoring touchdowns and racking up over 100 offensive yards each. Defensively, every player feasted as multiple players had sacks and we saw Maurice Davis Maurice Davis 6'4" | 205 lbs | DL Glassboro | 2027 State NJ Jr. return an interception for a touchdown. However, I want to shine light on one of the most destructive defensive linemen in the entire state in Brandon Simmons Brandon Simmons 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Glassboro | 2026 State NJ .

Brandon has been an absolute force for Glassboro all season long. With 17 sacks on the season and 119 total tackles, Brandon is relentless off of the line, using his big bodied frame to hold his ground and shake blockers off of him to clog up the hole. Brandon is sneaky quick for an interior defensive lineman. His first step out of his stand is explosive, with the capability of catching the blocker off guard and tearing by into the backfield. We don’t typically see such one sided affair this late into the playoffs, but Glassboro was able to display the best performance of the weekend on all fronts. Shutting Woodstown out 36-0, Brandon helped in a big way by finding his way to the quarterback 2 times, totaling 8 tackles, and recovering a fumble as well.

Brandon Simmons Brandon Simmons 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Glassboro | 2026 State NJ dominated in the second half, showcasing why he’s a top defensive tackle in New Jersey’s 2026 class. Standing 6’2”, 260 pounds, Simmons proved nearly impossible for Woodstown’s offensive line to handle. His block-neutralizing ability consistently disrupted Woodstown’s ground game, and he took over midway through the third quarter. 

Back-to-back tackles for loss set a tone, and a crucial red-zone stop stalled Woodstown’s drive. Simmons created constant pressure and made it clear he didn’t need help to impact the game. His performance underscored his reputation as a force on the defensive line.

Season Stats: 53 tackles (27 solo), 9 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 1 scoop & score

Best Game: 8 tackles (2 solo), 6 sacks, 2 tackles for loss vs. Woodbury

Worst Game: 7 tackles (4 solo), 2 tackles for loss vs. Deptford

Case For:

Case Against:

Top Attribute: Lives in the backfield

Brandon Simmons Brandon Simmons 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Glassboro | 2026 State NJ , is a prospect that I am an unabashed big fan of. Having earned PRZNJ 1st Team Defensive All-State honors, Simmons’ has the tape to match. A commonality with the other elite players at his position group, we see that he has a great get off. A bit different, however, than his contemporaries, is that Simmons’ style seems to be one predicated more on upfield gap penetration rather than gap control. With aggressive first two steps, it appears as if Simmons is at home in the backfield. The swim move is also available to him, opting to deploy it when appropriate. Hand usage is an another area where the junior succeeds, locking out at times and successfully snatching. More so than his peers, we see that Simmons has a clear closing speed he can accelerate to. Lastly, he has speed in the open field and the quickness to wreck things from a backside 4i.