The way Shane Simmons figures it, getting the call late is better than not getting it at all.
That proved to be the case Sunday afternoon for Simmons, a 2004 Kentlake High graduate and Western Washington star who anticipated being selected in the later rounds of the NFL draft.
Though Simmons’ name never was announced during the two-day draft, he did, in fact, receive the call that counted. Roughly an hour after the draft ended on Sunday, Simmons, a linebacker, signed a free-agent contract with the Oakland Raiders.
“I kind of figured I wouldn’t be drafted after the fifth and sixth rounds because there were a lot of linebackers who were already taken,” said Simmons, who also received offers from Detroit, Green Bay and San Francisco.
“All I needed was an opportunity, and that’s what I got,” Simmons said.
No Kentlake football player has ever made it to the NFL.
In high school, Simmons, a 6-foot-1, 230-pounder, made a name for himself more as a quarterback than as a defensive stalwart. During his senior season at Kentlake, he combined for 1,694 yards rushing and passing and scored 19 touchdowns in leading the Falcons to the state playoffs.
Simmons admitted that he wasn’t Raider fan growing up.
“Hell no, to be quite honest,” Simmons said with a laugh. “But I won’t have any problems wearing the silver and black now.”
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