| INDIANAPOLIS — Auburn OL coach Hugh Nall said he would leave OLT
Kendall Simmons with his three young children and never bat an eye, saying he’s the
kind of guy who takes care of everything that needs to be done. The soft-spoken offensive
lineman discusses making the transition to guard in the NFL, his artistic ability,
shutting down North Carolina DE Julius Peppers and what he likes to do in his spare time. Q:
You played left tackle but have been projected at right guard by many people. How do you
feel about that?
A: There’s really nothing I can do about it. I didn’t like it at first, but
I’ve learned to accept it. I’m excited to have the chance to play either one.
Q: You have played all four positions on the line except center, haven’t you?
A: Yes, so I feel if coaches give me a chance out there, I can show them what I can do.
If a team needs to push me outside for a game, I at least feel like I can get out there
and compete and do a good enough job to get them by for a game. The position doesn’t
matter to me. Hopefully, that plays in my favor.
Q: What are the reasons for moving you from right tackle to guard?
A: Just height. Some think my arms are not long enough. I’m 6-foot-2½. The
prototype offensive tackle is 6-foot-5.
Q: Do you find yourself looking at Florida OT Mike Pearson and saying, why
can’t I be a left tackle?
A: Yeah, I do that all the time. Look at a guy like (Miami OT) Bryant McKinnie or
(Texas OT) Mike Williams — those guys are prototype tackles. That’s what they
are looking for, but I feel like I could play it though. As long as I feel like I can play
it too.
Q: What sort of projections have you been hearing about yourself, where you might be
selected?
A: I really don’t know.
Q: Oh, come on, are you a first-rounder, a second-rounder — what have
you been hearing?
A: I’ve probably been hearing second (round) more than anything, but honestly,
man, whatever team wants me, I’m ready to play for them. I’m taking this whole
advantage that I have read right now and just taking it in stride and enjoying it.
Q: What was it like the night you helped Auburn beat Florida?
A: Something you can’t explain. We haven’t beat them the whole time I was
there except my last year. That sent me out on a high note, especially beating Alabama in
my last home game, senior year. But to me, beating Florida was bigger than any other win.
They were No. 1, and we had never even come close to beating them. They have always walked
off on us in the first quarter, and it has never even been close. The only time I thought
we had a chance to beat them was the year before. But this past season, you had that
doubt, like, "This is Florida, the No. 1 team in the country, do you really think you
have a chance?" It was more "no" than "yes." But when we beat
them, I probably laid down on the field for another hour. Everybody was. It was raining,
but I didn’t care. I was sick as a dog the next day, but I did not care. There was no
toilet paper left in the whole place. It was covered in it. That is something that school
will never forget, and I’m glad I was part of it.
Q: There probably won’t be too many days like that in the NFL. Are you OK with
that, with the game being more of a business?
A: I’m trying to look at it more as still wanting to play football and loving
football. When the day comes that it’s a business to me, I need to quit playing.
It’s a job —I won’t lie about it being a job, my livelihood — but the
day it becomes strictly business and I’m there to make money and I’m just out
there to keep money in my pocket, I’m quitting. I don’t need to play anymore. I
don’t look at football as just a money-making proposition. I’ve never had
anything, so I can deal with being that way for the rest of my life. I will make something
of it, but if it gets to that point, I wouldn’t want to play football anymore.
Q: Did you finish school?
A: I graduated already in graphic design.
Q: What is your skill in graphic design?
A: Just a little bit of everything. Designing logos. I like to paint and draw. I’m
probably more of an illustrator than a designer. I’ve got a lot better at graphic
design, but I probably would like to draw portraits or paint or something like that,
design my own logos or come up with something like that on the side
Q: Has anyone ever bought your work?
A: Yes, that’s how I made my money during the summer. I worked out and drew for
people, drew pictures for my teammates. They had a football picture that they wanted drawn
for their mama or somebody. I wouldn’t try to kill them, but that was my only way of
making money. And I made a little money this past season designing the media guide for our
team.
Q: Maybe you could design the media guide for the team that picks you?
A: I hope so. I hope I can at least design a part and have a hand in it, at least
design one page. That’s what I like to do.
Q: Painting is such a peaceful hobby, whereas football is quite violent. How do you
express yourself with the brush?
A: Just sceneries and things like that. If I’m painting, I’m painting
sceneries and birds and outdoor scenes. I rarely draw football action scenes and pictures.
When I go to paint, I try to get away from sports. I try to show another side of me. It
isn’t always in football.
Q: Any paintings for sale?
A: I got some at home that I’m just hanging onto to see if a few people want them.
But stuff like that, I enjoy doing. It gets me away from all this stuff.
Q: How many teams have visited you at your hotel here?
A: Man, I’ve probably been visited by almost every team. There are probably five
or six more teams I have yet to speak with.
Q: Is that intimidating at all?
A: This is something I always wanted to do. When I get older, I can just draw all the
time, but I’m going to enjoy this. It’s an opportunity I am going to take
advantage of, just being myself and not trying to overdo it, not trying to show somebody
another side of me that I have never had.
Q: Most of these NFL personnel want to know about your family. Does it get too
personal at times?
A: No, I don’t have anything to hide. Whatever they want to find out, they will
find out. I’m going to be myself. I’m not as strong as a lot of these guys, but
I’m just going to do the best I can.
Q: What happened to Kendall on the bench press? How many reps did you perform?
A: About 24 or 25. Like I said, I’m not as strong as a lot of these guys, but I
know I can play football. A lot of these guys hit 30, 30-plus. Like I said, I can play
football. I’m not a big weight-room guy. I feel like I’m strong enough to play.
I’m going to get in there and work, but that’s just me. There’s nothing I
can do about it. I’m upset about it. I don’t like it, but like I said, it’s
just me.
Q: It doesn’t matter how much weight you can lift if you can deliver the
pancake?
A: True, very true. I was hot (tempered) before I came in here, but I have calmed down
a little bit. Hopefully, they will not hold that against me, and my game film will speak
for itself.
Q: How many sacks have you allowed?
A: Two. One against Ball State the first game and one against Alabama the last game.
Q: Who was the toughest guy you’ve ever had to block?
A: Overall in my career, Anthony McFarland, who plays for Tampa Bay now. I was a
sophomore, and he was a senior then. The hardest guy this season has probably been Julius
Peppers just because he has a combination of a little bit of everything — speed, size
and strength. So he probably gave me the most fits of anybody this whole season.
Q: But you didn’t give up any sacks to Peppers?
A: No, I didn’t give up any, but I had a rough game against him because he used
his speed to try to get by me, and sometimes he tried to go right through me. We were
going back and forth all game. He would get me sometimes, and I would get him. I enjoyed
that game. I haven’t looked at the film yet. I’m kind of scared to look at it.
I’m my worst critic, so I would probably tear the tape up or the TV up by getting mad
at myself. He’s just a good ballplayer.
Q: You realize when you get to the league, every week you are going to face someone
like Julius Peppers?
A: Oh yeah, I realize that. Going to the Senior Bowl really opened my eyes up. You have
different-caliber guys. You have guys just as good and just as strong, if not faster. You
have to pick your game up. I know it’s going to be even faster than the Senior Bowl,
so I’m looking forward to it.
Q: Is there anything else the public might want to know about Kendall Simmons?
A: Not really. I’m just a laid-back guy. I’m a different person off the field
than I am on the field. I get really riled up when I’m on the field. A lot of times I
say a lot of stuff I shouldn’t say, but that’s just my aggressive nature when
I’m in there. Off the field, I’m laid-back, doing my own thing. I’m not in
the clubs doing all that stuff. I’m at home with my girl, with all my family. I feel
good like that.
Q: So you don’t care much for the clubs or nightlife?
A: No, that’s not me. I’m content sitting there and looking at TV, even if
it’s by myself. I can sit there all night looking at the TV, playing video games.
That keeps me content. I don’t care if there’s a party going on. I’ll go
out every blue moon, but that’s just if my girl wants to go out.
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