Player of the Pack: Austin Simmons

Austin Simmons is a junior quarterback majoring in physical education.

Cheyenne Alexis: What do you like about being the quarterback?

Austin Simmons: There’s a lot of things that I like about it. One big thing is you always get to touch the ball in every play, so you get to really have an impact in every game.

CA: Can you talk about your role in the Southern Illinois game and stepping in as QB for the majority of the game?

AS: (Chris) Streveler went down pretty early, and then I kind of stepped in and that game was kind of, honestly, pretty easy for me — the defense played really great, I played also really great, so I really didn’t have to do too much. Best thing was to throw the ball a few times, so it really wasn’t anything too challenging to me.

CA: Anything you tell yourself to prepare for a game?

AS: I think just when you’re getting ready to play a game, the biggest thing is you have to be focused, and you can’t have your attention somewhere else. You have to be delved into what’s going on all the time.

CA: What are you looking forward to at the spring football game?

AS: I’m really looking forward to in the spring game just getting better, getting to kind of put it all together at the end of spring and just have a little bit of fun with it.

CA: What are you looking forward to next year?

AS: Really for me, I’m just super excited to get my first chance at playing all the time, I’ve been waiting for a while now. I think our goals and expectations are really high and I think all teams’ really should be. Really just full speed ahead.