MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The last time Oklahoma played on Mountaineer Field in November 2018, wide receiver T.J. Simmons had the lowest point of his career.
In a back-and-forth offensive showdown between WVU and the Sooners, with a spot in the Big 12 Championship game on the line, running back Kennedy McKoy broke a 73-yard rush and was eventually tackled at the OU 2-yard line. Trailing 52-49 late, the Mountaineers could have retaken the lead, but instead, Simmons was flagged for a personal foul, blocking a defender too far out-of-bounds.
Instead, McKoy’s run was called back and two plays later, quarterback Will Grier was sacked and fumbled, and the Sooners returned it for the clinching touchdown.
Two years later, Simmons has just a few words to say about the call that could have cost WVU its first win over OU since it joined the Big 12 in 2012, and a spot in the Big 12 title game.
“I’m still a little upset about the flag, but I’m over it now,” Simmons said. “I just learned I need to stop blocking out-of-bounds so they don’t throw the flag.”
Simmons, who transferred from Alabama to WVU in 2017, will also be honored as one of 19 seniors before the game on Senior Night, although this is one of the most unique senior nights ever, and it’s not just for the Mountaineers.
All players had their eligibility frozen this year due to COVID-19, and for seniors, they will have an opportunity to come back if they want or if scholarship numbers allow.
While a few players are unlikely to return — defensive lineman Darius Stills mentioned he was winding his career down and linebacker Tony Fields accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl — there are numerous seniors who are fringe pro players or would end their football careers otherwise.
Simmons has 15 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns this season, and has come on strong the last few games. The Mountaineers (5-3, 4-3 Big 12) are still alive for a shot in this year’s edition of the Big 12 title game, so Simmons said he hasn’t put much thought in what his future holds past the final two games against the Sooners and Iowa State.
“I don’t think we’re really thinking about that right now with this senior class,” he said. “Over the bye week, we may have talked back and forth about it, but during game week, we aren’t really thinking about what’s going to happen next year. We’re just trying to finish these last two up, so this 2020 team can finish up strong.”
Bye week helps Leddie
WVU was the only Big 12 team to play five-straight games this season, which head coach Neal Brown was vocal about prior to that stretch in early October.
The Mountaineers finally had a bye week last week, and running back Leddie Brown may have benefited over anyone. After getting banged up against Texas on Nov. 7, Brown was questionable against TCU on Nov. 14, but started and played well.
Regardless, Neal Brown said the off week did Leddie some good.
“I think Leddie feels good. He’ll practice at full strength this week,” Neal Brown said. “The bye week came at a really good time for him.
“He played and played well against TCU, he just didn’t have the extra gear. I feel like a couple of those runs that he broke out, he had a chance to go score touchdowns on them if he was fully healthy, but I do think he feels better and that it came at a good time.”
Brown is third nationally in rushing yards with 897, on pace for 1,000 with his 112.7 per game average.
Tweet @SeanManning_1
