#95

Zeion Simpson-Smith

DT · Middle Tennessee · R-Jr. · #95

Returning to Middle Tennessee for 2026
R-Jr. · Nashville, TN → Pearl Cohn
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Zeion Simpson-Smith

DT · Middle Tennessee · Fr · #95

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#2057 national
CFB
College
Middle Tennessee
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Middle Tennessee3-9HC: Derek Mason · Pass-leaning

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Middle Tennessee19123.03.0------
Career19123.03.0------

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 13 · 2025

W 31–17

vs Sam Houston

2 TOT  ·  1 SOLO  ·  1 SACKS

How he plays

Play style

Disrupts the pocket from the interior.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Middle Tennessee

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive tackle · Middle Tennessee

Returning around him

  • 99% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • 1 Middle Tennessee player drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: +1 net (19 in / 18 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Middle Tennessee · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #110 · 2026 recruiting class #117

DNA match

Player DNA

3-Tech Penetrator

Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.

IDL

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Darius Hodges’s 2022 season.

Tulane · 2022

All-AAC
#2

Donovan Hinish

Notre Dame · 2024

70%
#3

Darin Conley

Ball State · 2024

69%
#4

Tyrece Woods Jr.

Central Michigan · 2021

68%
#5

Isaiah Neal

Pittsburgh · 2025

66%

Matches Darius on

Weight
Sack rate
Hurry rate

Differs from Darius on

Height (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Jarra Anderson's freshman season at Memphis (2023).

Memphis · 2023

#2

Darin Conley

Ball State · 2024

69%
#3

Caleb Sandstrom

App State · 2025

67%
#4

Nahsir Taylor

Maryland · 2025

65%
#5

Trace Scott

Delaware · 2025

64%

Matches Jarra on

Sack rate
TFL rate
Height

Differs from Jarra on

Class year (lower)
Hurry rate (higher)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #10737

Final rank
#11939
Avg #11511.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #10737 this season.

Background

Honors • 2025: CUSA All-Freshman Team 2025 (r-Freshman) • Played in all 12 games • Ended the year with 21 tackles, including 3.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, three hurries, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble • Was in on 260 total defensive snaps, including a season-high 43 at WKU • Had three tackles, incl...

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