Florida Gators QB commit Austin Simmons sees ‘more pros than cons’ to reclassifying to 2023
MOORE HAVEN, FLORIDA — Austin Simmons, the 2025 4-star Florida Gators quarterback commit and baseball standout, has a life-altering decision ahead of him.
Sometime soon, Simmons will reveal whether or not he will reclassify to 2023 and enroll at Florida this summer. And it’s something he thinks about daily and constantly analyses.
“Honestly, yeah. I see more pros than cons (by reclassifying),” Simmons told Gators Online after his spring game Thursday night. “I could develop in both sports at such a high level.”
But, he said it’s no done deal he will go the route of reclassifying.
He might stick around a little bit longer in high school. He potentially could reclassify to 2024. Does he want to get a head start in college? Or does he want to enjoy being a high school student another year or longer?
It’s a lot for anyone to process, let alone a 17-year old.
Simmons went in-depth with Gators Online on his situation Thursday …
Where do things stand with your classification — and possible reclassification to 2023?
Simmons: “So as of right now, I’m still 2025, playing at Moore Haven Junior/Senior High School. And as of right now, I’m still thinking about going, talking to my family about it, still trying to figure out the pros and cons of graduating that early.”
When would you need to make a decision by?
Simmons: “You can’t drag it all the way like that. Honestly, I don’t know yet. That’s what my dad’s really telling me. So, I’m thinking long and hard about this, day and night. And my dad’s just going to tell me when I need to make a decision by.”
If you reclassified to 2023, when would you be enrolling at Florida?
Simmons: “Probably Summer B. Probably like late July.”
Austin Simmons is interested in playing two sports at Florida
Is a pro baseball opportunity also factoring into this decision?
Simmons: “I didn’t really talk to any scouts yet, to be honest with you. It’s all been my dad. He’s the person that really helps me with this type of stuff. … I’m a left-handed pitcher and outfielder. I topped out at 96 (mph) this year.”
Are you considering playing baseball at UF?
Simmons: “Yeah, I got offered to play both at Florida.”
What are the pros of enrolling in 2023?
Simmons: “The pros are developing, you know, playing at a high level every single game. Staying under the wing of Coach (Ryan) O’Hara, Coach (Billy) Napier, really understanding their coaching ways and how they can make me a better quarterback, get me prepared for the league and stuff. So, just early development.”
What are the cons?
Simmons: “You miss out on high school experience. Jumping two years — that’s something you don’t see every day. You really see someone jumping one year, but like two years actually is crazy to be honest with you; So yeah, just missing out on my high school experience, you know, missing those final two years.”
Your dad said Florida would love this to happen, you enrolling this summer?
Simmons: “Oh yeah.”
Who approached you about it? How did it all start?
Simmons: “Honestly, I think I was out of the room. I don’t know who approached it because I was out of the room. So, my dad was talking to a coach, and I guess he got approached by it and I just walked in on them having a conversation about it.”
If you don’t do 2023, could you still do 2024?
Simmons: “Yeah, exactly.”
Is that on the table, too?
Simmons: “Yeah, that could be on the table, too. I’m eligible to graduate, like, right now. At this very moment.”
Are you waiting for anything from the University of Florida admissions?
Simmons: “Honestly, I don’t know yet. That’s all with my dad. That’s his business. I’m really trying to stay out of that and just focus on football.”
What would Austin Simmons prefer to do?
You’re weighing the pros and cons. What do you want to do?
Simmons: “Honestly, thinking about it, I want to enjoy my last two years of high school football, high school baseball. But I’m also like thinking about it from a realistic standpoint, jumping two years can probably be a great decision for me. I can really get developed at such a high level. … (And) Florida has a tremendous baseball program. They’re top five in the nation. So just developing at a high level.”
How are you gonna reveal this decision?
Simmons: “I don’t know yet. I haven’t really thought about that. I’m just trying to figure out what I’m gonna do.”
Are you losing sleep over it?
Simmons: “No, not really. I’m actually trying to sleep longer.”
Is it kind of a win-win no matter what you do?
Simmons: “Technically, yeah.”
If you didn’t do 2023, what would be the odds you would do 2024? Can you see yourself going all the way to 2025?
Simmons: “I don’t know, because I’m so far advanced in high school. Like, what else am I gonna do? Get my four-year diploma?”
Simmons is an outstanding student with a 5.34 GPA
How many college credits do you have right now?
Simmons: “I have 48 credits right now.”
What’s your GPA?
Simmons: “My weighted GPA in high school is 5.34.”
What do you want to study in college?
Simmons: “I wanna study sports medicine. Try to get into the physical therapy and understand the whole body so I can help.”
How locked in with Florida are you?
Simmons: “Honestly, I’m pretty locked in with Florida, but I’m still open for recruiting at this point.”
How often do you talk to Florida?
Simmons: “I talk to Coach O’Hara pretty much every other day. I talk to Coach Napier pretty much every other day too. Coach Larry Williams at Florida, he’s friends with my dad. He’s like one of the recruiting directors over there. He’s like my uncle.”
With first-round pick Anthony Richardson, what did you see in Florida’s development with him?
Simmons: “What I saw with the development of Anthony Richardson, he has great potential in the NFL. What they did with him in college, they definitely developed him, made him a better passer, a great quarterback overall. You know, that goes back to Coach O’Hara and his teachings.”
If you went there in July, in your mind how long would it be before Austin Simmons could compete for some playing time?
Simmons: “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not gonna really say that, you know? But I feel like I can compete with anyone. I don’t care how good you are, I’m always gonna be open for competition.”
*Austin Simmons’ Thursday night game coverage
The post Florida Gators QB commit Austin Simmons sees ‘more pros than cons’ to reclassifying to 2023 appeared first on On3.
