The redshirt senior Simmons started two games in 2015 and then 12 last season. He was expected to start at one cornerback position this year for the Hilltoppers, with Joe Brown holding down the corner spot on the other side of the field.
“He’s a brother of ours, a guy that’s been in this program and sacrificed a lot to put himself in position to have a great senior year,” Sanford said. “That was a hard loss for all of us. But De’Andre’s an incredible young man and he’ll really bounce back from this. We stand behind him 100 percent.