Austin Simmons says he’s been hearing Tua Tagovailoa comparisons ‘since the 6th grade’
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Austin Simmons met with reporters at SEC Media Days in Atlanta on Monday afternoon.
Simmons, who bears a resemblance to former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa, was asked if he’s ever heard that comparison. Simmons immediately cracked a smile.
“I’ve heard that so many times,” Simmons said. “I’ve been hearing that since I was in the 6th grade. And that really says a lot honestly because my hair was way shorter than this. I’ve actually been trying to grow my hair out so I don’t look like him as much.”
Here’s a clip of Simmons’ interaction with Saturday Down South’s Connor O’Gara:
Putting the physical resemblance aside, Simmons is also a southpaw like Tagovailoa — a rare trait for a quarterback in modern football. As far as the NFL goes, there are only 2 active lefties who play quarterback: Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.
Simmons will hope to join that list at some point in the future. He’s gearing up for his first season as a college starter this fall and will be playing in Lane Kiffin offense that has produced multiple NFL-level quarterbacks in the past, most recently Jaxson Dart.
Simmons and Ole Miss will begin the 2025 season against Georgia State on Aug. 30.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
