Mississippi State allows recruit Jeffery Simmons to enroll, will be evaluated

— -- Mississippi State signee Jeffery Simmons will be allowed to enroll to play football at the school but with conditions attached, the school announced Thursday.

Simmons was arrested in March and charged with simple assault and disturbing the peace after a video that appeared to show Simmons striking a woman several times after she fell to the ground emerged on social media. The defensive end prospect, who was ranked 84th overall in the 2016 ESPN 300 and signed with the Bulldogs in February, is awaiting legal resolution of the incident.

The university issued a statement Thursday that said Simmons "will be evaluated by the licensed professionals at the university's Student Counseling Services and be required to complete any program prescribed by that office."

While he will be allowed to enroll for summer classes and participate in football activities, Simmons will be suspended for the Bulldogs' season opener against South Alabama on Sept. 3.

The mother of the Mississippi woman who was allegedly assaulted by Simmons told ESPN in March that the attack was the result of a long-standing dispute between her daughter and his family.

"Based on conversations our staff has had with school, community and church leaders in Noxubee County, this incident appears to be uncharacteristic of Jeffery," Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin said Thursday in a statement. "It's a highly unique circumstance to administer discipline to a student for an incident that occurred prior to that individual joining our university. However, it's important that Jeffery and other potential MSU students understand that these type of actions and poor decisions are not acceptable.

"We expect the structure and discipline Jeffery will be a part of in our football program to benefit him. Jeffery will be held accountable for his actions while at MSU, and there will be consequences for any future incidents."

Simmons apologized for the incident on his Facebook page in the aftermath. "My apology goes out to the Taylor Family and especially to Sophia Taylor. What was I thinking? Honestly, I wasn't thinking, all I could think was this is my family and I'm supposed to defend my family" Simmons wrote. He added, "I truly hope that you will find it in your hearts to forgive me for my actions."

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Simmons was the 12th-ranked defensive end in the 2016 recruiting class and compiled 20.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries, three blocked field goal attempts and two blocked punts as a senior while helping Noxubee County High School win a Mississippi Class 4A state championship.