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June 19, 2010

A HIGHER CALLING

Hanceville’s Diamond Simmons is a star in three sports, but the rising junior has loftier goals than athletic excellence

By Mike Cummings The Cullman Times

Tracking down Diamond Simmons these days is no small task. And not just when the Hanceville High standout is excelling in one of his three sports.

You see, while most high-school students are out enjoying their time off this summer, Simmons will be out pounding the pavement as he pursues two of his passions.

One you probably already know. The other might surprise you.

“I’m just trying to do the right thing,” Simmons said in a phone interview Saturday from Michigan, where he was busy conducting mission work with Garden City Baptist. “This is another thing I want to do with my life — be a missionary. And this is a good start.”

Through two years of a sterling prep sports career, Simmons is also off to a good start with his other passion: Playing football.

In his sophomore season, Simmons, a running back who features a lethal combination of power and speed, rushed for more than 1,500 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Combined with strong seasons in basketball and track and field, Simmons was an easy choice as The Times Prep Boys Athlete of the Year for the for the 2009-2010 school year.

Danny Miller, who coaches Simmons on Hanceville’s football and track and field teams, agreed.

“He works hard to get everything he gets,” said Miller, who led the Bulldogs’ turnaround from 1-9 in 2008 to 4-6 last season. “He deserves all the recognition he gets, but it doesn’t seem to change him. Every time he receives an honor, he just goes right back to work.”

That work paid off in a big way this past school year. On the football field, Simmons recorded eight 100-yard games, earning first-team All-State honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

His total of 1,561 yards included 199 against Good Hope, 197 against Carbon Hill and 193 against J.B. Pennington. The only times he missed the 100-yard mark were in week two against Danville and week nine against Winfield.

On the basketball court, Simmons helped lead the Bulldogs to a 18-10 finish with strong defensive play in the backcourt. And in track, he anchored Hanceville’s 4x100-meter relay team that won the Class 3A state championship.

Simmons considers the latter one of his proudest moments.

“Proud isn’t even the word,” he said. “Before we raced we prayed about 1,000 times, ‘Please, let us win.’ And God answered our prayers.”

Track isn’t the only place Simmons’ faith shines through. On his football cleats, he writes Bible verses to remind himself what he’s playing for.

“The reason I play football is not to make myself known,” he said. “The only reason I play football is to make the gospel known. That’s the only reason.”

It’s no surprise, then, that Simmons would be spreading the gospel hundreds of miles away from home during his summer vacation — or that he has more mission trips planned for the rest of the summer. But when he’s not out spreading the word, Simmons has been attending football camps, including one earlier this month at the University of Alabama. He plans to attend another one next month at Vanderbilt.

But while he might not be going out of his way to further his football career, Simmons could have the opportunity to play in college. Thanks to a breakout sophomore season, Simmons is already receiving attention from college recruiters heading into his junior year.

But whether he plays in college or not, Simmons said he’ll be happy.

“If I go to college and play football, that’s great,” he said. “But if not, I know God has another plan for me.”

• Mike Cummings can be reached by email at michaelc(at)cullmantimes.com or by phone at 734-2131, ext. 258.

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