Ko Simpson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1983)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ko Simpson
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number = 30
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|11|9}}
| birth_place = Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 202
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (2005)
- First-team All-SEC (2005)
- Second-team All-SEC (2004)
- SEC Freshman of the Year (2004)
| high_school = Rock Hill
| college = South Carolina
| draftyear = 2006
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 105
| pastteams =
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2008}})
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2009}})
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 174
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 1.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 3
| pfr = S/SimpKo20
}}
Yukota "Ko" Simpson (born November 9, 1983) is an American former professional football safety. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He played college football at South Carolina.
He also played for the Detroit Lions.
Early life
Simpson was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina and attended Castle Heights Middle School and Rock Hill High School where he helped lead the team to a Class AAAA State Championship playing on both offense and defense. He signed a letter of intent with South Carolina in 2003, but did not enroll until spring of 2004 under then head coach Lou Holtz.{{cite web | url=http://uscsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/simpson_ko00.html | title=Player Bio:Ko Simpson | publisher=University of South Carolina | author=Athletic Department | date= | accessdate=November 2, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101031530/http://uscsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/simpson_ko00.html | archive-date=January 1, 2007 | url-status=dead }}
College career
Simpson attended and played college football at South Carolina.{{Cite web |last=Strelow |first=Paul |date=November 6, 2004 |title=Simpson does it all for Gamecocks |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2004/11/07/simpson-does-it-all-for-gamecocks/29736892007/ |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=Spartanburg Herald Journal |language=en-US}} In his freshman season, Simpson recorded 50 solo tackles, 11 assists and six interceptions. Against Georgia, in only his second collegiate game, he intercepted a David Greene pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Gamecocks' win over Arkansas which included a fumble recovery returned 57 yards for a touchdown.
His six interceptions led the Southeastern Conference and he was named Freshman of the Year in the SEC by the Associated Press,{{cite web|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/120804/usc_secaward.shtml |title=Simpson named AP SEC freshman of the year |publisher=Associated Press |author=Iacobelli, Pete |date=December 7, 2004 |accessdate=November 2, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203114104/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/120804/usc_secaward.shtml |archivedate=December 3, 2008 }} becoming the first South Carolina player to ever win the award.
As a sophomore, Simpson had 103 total tackles, two fumble returns and an interception. He was consensus All-SEC and named a Football Writers Association All-American.{{cite web | url=http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/ColumbiaState/2006/05/01/1515370?extID=10037&oliID=229 | title=Simpson drops to 4th round | publisher=The State | author=Babb, Kent | date=May 1, 2006 | accessdate=November 2, 2006 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1
| weight = 209
| dash = 4.47
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.63
| shuttle = 4.17
| cone drill = 7.09
| vertical = 40.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 2
| bench = 11
| arm span = 32 7/8
| hand span = 9 1/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ko-simpson/32005349-4d56-0277-f586-068d7c625b23 |title=Ko Simpson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=November 27, 2024}}
}}
=Buffalo Bills=
Simpson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft with the 105th overall pick.{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/draft.htm |access-date=May 9, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} On September 11, 2007, Simpson was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2007 |title=NFL notebook: Everett moves limbs|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2007/sep/12/nfl-notebook-everett-moves-limbs/ |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=The Spokesman-Review}}
=Detroit Lions=
Simpson was traded to the Detroit Lions for a seventh round pick on September 4, 2009.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2009 |title=Bills trade Simpson to Lions |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-trade-simpson-to-lions-772070 |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=BuffaloBills.com |language=en-US}} On November 25, Simpson was placed on injured reserve with a torn patella with a separated MCL.{{cite web | last=Yuille | first=Sean | title=Wednesday Notes: Ernie Sims, Dewayne White Return to Practice | website=Pride Of Detroit | date=2009-12-02 | url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2009/12/2/1182006/wednesday-notes-ernie-sims-dewayne | access-date=2024-12-21}}
He was released by the Lions on September 4, 2010.{{Cite web |last=Yuille |first=Sean |date=September 4, 2010 |title=NFL Roster Cuts: Lions Release Ko Simpson |url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2010/9/4/1669490/nfl-roster-cuts-lions-release-ko |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=Pride Of Detroit |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kowalski |first=Tom |date=June 5, 2010 |title=Lions' Ko Simpson showed flashes, but not enough to be dependable |url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2010/06/lions_ko_simpson_showed_flashe.html |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=mlive.com |language=en}}
NFL statistics
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="4"| Tackles ! colspan="3"| Fumbles ! colspan="6"| Interceptions | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | GS | Comb | Total | Ast | Sack | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | |
| 2006 | BUF
| 16 || 15 || 76 || 50 || 26 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 76 || 38 || 76 || 0 || 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | BUF
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 | BUF
| 16 || 11 || 66 || 51 || 15 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 | ||||||||||||||
| 2009 | DET
| 8 || 5 || 30 || 26 || 4 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 8 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 4 | ||||||||||||||
| class="sortbottom"
! colspan=2|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimpKo20.htm Career] | 41 | 32 | 173 | 128 | 45 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 27 | 76 | 0 | 10 |
Personal life
On January 1, 2009, Simpson was arrested by a Rock Hill, South Carolina police officer for hindering police while they were attempting to break up an unruly crowd. According to the police report, Simpson verbally abused officers.{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2009|agency=Associated Press |title=Bills' Simpson asks for program to erase charge |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-fbn-bills-simpson-arrested-020509-2009feb05-story.html |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bills2006DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Ko}}
Category:Players of American football from Rock Hill, South Carolina
Category:American football safeties
Category:South Carolina Gamecocks football players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Rock Hill High School (South Carolina) alumni