Ron Simpkins

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Ron Simpkins
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No. 56, 51
PositionLinebacker
Personal information
Born (1958-04-02) April 2, 1958 (age 68)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolWestern (Detroit)
CollegeMichigan
NFL draft1980: 7th round, 167th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Sacks4.5
Fumble recoveries4
Stats at Pro Football Reference
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Ronald Bernard Simpkins (born April 2, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1976 to 1979. He became Michigan's all-time career tackle leader in 1979 and was a consensus first-team selection for the 1979 College Football All-America Team. He later played in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals (1980, 1982–1986) and the Green Bay Packers (1988).

Early life

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Simpkins was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1958. He attended Western International High School in Detroit.[1][2]

University of Michigan

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Simpkins enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1976 and played college football as an inside linebacker for coach Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1976 to 1979.[3] Simpkins saw playing time as a freshman and won the John F. Maulbetsch Award in the spring of 1977, given each year by the University of Michigan after spring practice to a freshman football candidate on the basis of desire, character, capacity for leadership and future success both on and off the football field.[4]

As a sophomore, Simpkins was the leading tackler for the 1977 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled 10-2 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, and allowed only 97 points (8.8 points per game) in 11 regular season games.[4] Simpkins totaled 144 tackles, nearly double the total of 76 compiled by the team's second-leading tackler.[5] He also sacked opposing quarterbacks 10 times and recovered five fumbles in 1977.[6] In the final regular season game of the 1977 season, Simpkins had 20 tackles (15 solo) and recovered a fumble that set up the game-winning touchdown in Michigan's 14-6 victory over Ohio State.[6]

As a junior, Simpkins was Michigan's leading tackler for the second straight year. His 144 tackles was once again nearly double the 79 compiled by the team's second-leading tackler.[5] He led the 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team to its second straight 10-2 record with a defense that allowed only 88 points (8.0 points per game) in 11 regular season games.[7] At the end of the 1978 season, Simpkins was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference linebacker.[7]

As a senior, Simpkins was Michigan's leading tackler for the third consecutive season,[5] and he was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1979 Michigan Wolverines football team.[8] He was also a consensus selection on the 1979 College Football All-America Team, earning first-team honors from the Associated Press, United Press International and Football Writers Association of America.

In his four years at Michigan, Simpkins set a school record with 415 tackles (including 262 solo tackles). His career tackles record stood until 1996 when Jarrett Irons concluded his Michigan career with 429 tackles.[9] During his Michigan career, Simpkins also had 11 pass breakups, seven fumble recoveries and an interception.[10]

Professional football

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Simpkins was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round (167th overall pick) of the 1980 NFL draft.[1] He signed with the Bengals in May 1980.[11] As a rookie, he started two games following an injury to Glenn Cameron.[1][12]

Simpkins did not appear in any games during the 1981 NFL season.[1] He returned in 1982 but was cut by the Bengals during the first week of September 1981.[13] He returned to the Bengals midseason in 1982, appearing in five games as a backup. In 1983, he appeared in 15 games as a backup linebacker. Simpkins finally became a starter for the 1984 and 1985 Bengals, appearing in all 32 games, including 20 games as a starter.[1] In 1986, Simpkins returned to a backup role for the Bengals.[1] Following the 1987 preseason, Simpkins was cut by the Bengals in the first week of September.[14]

After being cut by the Bengals, Simpkins did not play in the NFL during the 1987 season. He signed with the Green Bay Packers in May 1988.[15] After being cut late in the preseason, he was re-signed by the Packers in late September 1988.[16] He appeared in seven games, all as a backup, for the Packers during the 1988 NFL season.[1]

Between 1980 and 1988, Simpkins appeared in 91 NFL games, 22 of them as a starter.[1]

Later years

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In the spring of 1990, Simpkins returned to Detroit to coach football. During a career that spanned eighteen seasons, Ron was at the helm for the Cowboys of Western International High School; he retired in 2007.

References

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  9. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).(to retrieve current information, go to the "Individual Statistical Leaders" and select "Career", "Defense" and "Tackles")
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