All for Tennessee
Fansided

NFL Draft: JJ Watt lobbies for Vols signee he saw on stage

By Caleb Calhoun

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 23: Defensive end J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans looks on during warmups before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 23: Defensive end J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans looks on during warmups before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

JJ Watt wants Tennessee football commit Elijah Simmons on the Houston Texans. The Volunteers signee was on stage for the Titans NFL Draft pick in Nashville.

At least one member of the 2019 Tennessee football recruiting class is getting a ringing endorsement, and he’s getting it from an elite player. Defensive tackle commitment Elijah Simmons got recognition from Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt during the NFL Draft.

Simmons, a four-star defensive tackle, was among 13 Nashville-area football players on stage while the Tennessee Titans made their selection. That’s where Watt recognized his size, and he immediately jumped on it.

The superstar defensive end tweeted out a request that the Houston Texans go ahead and select Simmons. He called out Simmons by his number, and is clearly already prepared for him to be in the pros as a teammate.

Related Story. 2019 NFL Draft: Primer for former Vols. light

Of course, Simmons is a crazy size. He is listed at 6’2″ 350 pounds on Rivals, which is huge for a high school guy. And with the Vols desperate for help on the defensive line this year, there’s a chance Simmons gets to play early. That would certainly help his NFL Draft stock.

Unfortunately for Watt, Simmons will have to wait three years before they could be teammates. Simmons is the one defensive lineman in this recruiting class who is not a junior college transfer, as Jeremy Pruitt needs immediate help there after losing all three of his starting linemen from this past year in Kyle Phillips, Alexis Johnson and Shy Tuttle.

Funny enough, though, Watt and the Vols have one connection, albeit a negative one: Butch Jones. Before playing for the Wisconsin Badgers, Watt was with the Michigan Wolverines, where Jones tried to force him to play tight end.

dark. Next. Vols football's top 30 players since 1998

So maybe both schools now have a negative relationship with Jones. Anyway, Simmons got a ringing endorsement, and he does have incredible size. That alone could make him the best fit to play nose tackle in Pruitt’s 3-4 scheme this year. And by that point, his NFL Draft stock could shoot up early on anyway.

Home/Vols Football