CaneSport’s Inside the Lines with Miami Hurricanes DT Simeon Barrow
Sometimes big guys are described as being “teddy bears.” Well, maybe that doesn’t quite fit Michigan State transfer arrival Simeon Barrow, who looks like a teddy bear that will rip your head off on the field. But he certainly has a bit of that fun personality to show off, including flexing at the start of his Inside The Lines interview with CaneSport and, when getting introduced, yelling “That’s me!” while pointing at the camera.
INSIDE THE LINES SERIES: C Zach Carpenter … QB Emory Williams … WR Jacolby George … OL Francis Mauigoa … DT Ahmad Moten … OL Samson Okunlola … OL Matthew McCoy … RB Jordan Lyle … WR JoJo Trader … DL Tyler Baron … CB D’yoni Hill… DT Joshua Horton… DT Artavius Jones… S Markeith Williams
Barrow’s arrival along with NC State’s CJ Clark (as the likely inside starters) along with Middle Tennessee State’s Marley Cook gives the Cane interior a veteran feel. All three have proved in the past they can get things done.
“Great D tackles with CJ, Marley, some great guys, dudes – we have (ends Akheem Mesidor), (Rueben) Bain, EA (Elijah Alston, a lot of people,” Barrow said. “Man, it’s great, great being around the guys, building great chemistry.”
With Mesidor and Bain also able to play inside, there can be a rotation to keep the linemen fresh. As Barrow puts it, he’ll “feel like a million bucks – (playing too many reps) is a big old load on your back, will take a toll on your body.”
Barrow had 36 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season, and he’s a guy that can hold up against the run and also has enough burst to get after the QB.
He started 10 games for the Spartans each of the last three years and in addition to his 3.5 sacks last year he had 40 tackles, nine for losses, with four sacks in 2022, and in 2021 as a redshirt freshman he ended with 34 tackles, four TFL and three sacks.
He says with that experience helps slow things down for him on the field.
“It’s a big factor knowing what is going on, what you should be expecting,” Barrow said.
Barrow also said of choosing Miami out of the portal that “I feel I made a great decision, I feel like the coaching staff and players, man, I love being around them. It feels great, a big old relief.”
As for Barrow’s Pro Football Focus grades? This past season in 469 reps he had a 72.2 overall grade (72.3 run defense, 74.3 pass rush, low 29.6 tackle grade). He was noted with 11 missed tackles and 17 QB hurries. His 2022 grade was 77.4 percent (76.4 run defense, 70.0 tackle, 70.1 pass rush) and he had just three missed tackles in 537 reps with 19 QB hurries. In 2021 he had a 71.5 overall grade in 442 reps (69.5 run defense, 70.9 pass rush, 51.7 tackle grade) with seven missed tackles and 17 QB hurries.
He says going against this Miami O line in practice has him and the rest of the defensive linemen ready for any opponent.
“We are going against the best O line in the ACC,” Barrow said. “I love this, man. Sharpening iron back and forth. … You have to make practice hard so the game is easier.”
A 6-3, 280-pounder, Barrow is ready to do his part for this team.
“We have people ready to hunt, that are really hungry,” Barrow said. “I feel we’ll have a great season.
“We want to win games, man. I want the natty, we want to win as a team, have the best defensive line – we want to be great everywhere. I want to have a complete and great team, strive for greatness.”
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