Swedish international recruit, Lucas Simmons, headed to ACC Powerhouse Florida State
By Noah Costantino
Swedish offensive lineman, Lucas Simmons, the 13th ranked OT in 2023 according to 247 Sports, will be taking his talents to Florida State. Florida State has not been able to bring in such a highly ranked offensive tackle in over five years. As a 4-star recruit, Simmons stands in at 6 foot 8 (2.03m), 300 lbs. (136.07kg).
Lucas attended high school at Clearwater Academy International in Clearwater, Florida. He moved to the Sunshine State and enrolled in the academy before his junior season where he would start tackle for CAI football team.
Simmons grew up in Stockholm, Sweden playing a multitude of sports such as soccer, basketball and European handball. This early development gave him excellent athleticism and the ability to “bend”.
“It’s Florida State!” he told Sports Illustrated. “I love Florida State. I can purely say that I do. They came in May 2021, when I was back in Sweden. Even throughout the stars, throughout the rankings and the good season—they’ve been with me and they’ve been the same.
“It’s been real from the start.”
Simmons rise to excellence should not come as a complete surprise. His father, Able Simmons, also played collegiate football for the Big 12 school Oklahoma. What scouts noticed was that for someone his size, the younger Simmons also moves his feet very well, a trait that will help at his position dealing with speedy edge rushers and working up field when blocking the run.
Simmons received his first offer from the University of West Virginia in April of 2021. However, he started garnering the bulk of his early attention a month later in May as the offers started flooding in. This summer, he received offers from powerhouse universities such as Penn State, Oklahoma, Texas and his now commitment school Florida State.
Simmons was able to take his official visit to Florida State in January of 2022. Florida State Seminoles offensive line coaches were a big part in the young Swede’s commitment. While they mentioned the things most college coaches say, such as “helping you grow as a player and a person”, they also made him feel “at home” in Tallahassee, Florida although his home is almost 5,000 miles away in Stockholm.
Overall, this is a win for all parties. Florida State gets a great talent and a chance to develop one of the best tackles in the 2023 class; and international players potentially get another name to look up to in their pursuit to play American Football.
