Austin Simmons QB Missouri |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #13 PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 10/14/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.65 seconds (84%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #13 | |
| PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | |
| Last Updated: 10/14/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.65 seconds (84%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
85.9 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Release Speed: |
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93% |
| Short Passing: |
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78% |
| Medium Passing: |
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83% |
| Long Passing: |
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82% |
| Rush/Scramble: |
|
60% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#74
Position rank:
#10 (QB)
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| College Games: 20 College Snaps: 711 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough - Louisville |
|
79% |
| Cade Klubnik - Clemson |
|
77% |
| Kenny Pickett - Pittsburgh |
|
76% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Austin Simmons took an unusual path to the SEC. A two-sport prospect out of Moore Haven High School in Florida, he jumped two recruiting classes, flipped his commitment from Florida to Ole Miss and enrolled in Oxford as one of the youngest quarterbacks in college football. He also pitched for the Ole Miss baseball team in the spring of 2024 before committing fully to football.Simmons redshirted in 2023 and backed up Jaxson Dart in 2024, completing 19 of 32 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns in nine appearances. He opened 2025 as the Rebels' starter, but an ankle injury in the second game against Kentucky opened the door for Trinidad Chambliss, and Simmons finished the year with 744 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions in six games.
He signed with Missouri in January, won the job over Matt Zollers in the spring and has been one of the nation's most efficient passers since. He threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns in the win at Kansas and had his first 300-yard game in the 45-17 rout of No. 8 Florida, going 23 of 30 for 340 yards and earning SEC co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Live, loose arm with baseball-pitcher release; the ball explodes out on throws outside the numbers
- Best work comes vertically, dropping layered throws over linebackers and between safeties on deep shots
- Ball security this fall, with 14 touchdowns and one interception through six starts
- Torched No. 8 Florida for 340 yards, hitting throw after throw beyond 10 yards
- Prototype frame at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, with room to add strength
- Stays poised in muddy pockets and delivers on time with defenders closing
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Short and underneath accuracy trails his downfield work; managed 147 yards on 28 throws against Texas A&M
- One-year starter whose 2025 starts at Ole Miss produced five interceptions in 75 attempts
- Rarely uses his legs, with 13 carries for two yards this fall
- Interception-free but not risk-free; several dangerous throws at Mississippi State went unpunished
Scouting Report: Summary
Simmons arrived at Missouri as a reclamation project after losing his job at Ole Miss to Trinidad Chambliss, and six games in he is one of the biggest risers in the 2027 quarterback class. The first thing that jumps off the tape is the arm. He has the loose, whip-like release of a former pitcher, and the ball comes out with real velocity whether he is driving it outside the numbers or dropping it over the second level. His best work is vertical: against Florida he picked the Gators apart downfield on his way to 340 yards, and he has been just as aggressive on the road at Kansas and Mississippi State. His first interception did not come until the sixth game, a big step from the turnover issues of his brief 2025 run.However, the sample is thin. Simmons is essentially a one-year starter, and his two starts at Ole Miss produced 576 yards but four interceptions before the ankle injury ended his run. His accuracy on short and underneath throws is behind his deep ball, and he does not create much with his legs, which means he has to win from the pocket on every snap. The clean interception column also flatters him slightly: at Mississippi State he needed 39 attempts and put several throws in harm's way that defenders failed to finish, and against Troy and Texas A&M he managed 111 and 147 yards when the deep shots were not there. He also has eligibility left, and his draft decision may hinge on his return to Oxford and the November schedule.
Overall, the arm, the frame and the early production are all there, and the rest of the SEC schedule will decide how high he climbs. For now, Simmons projects as a third-round quarterback with starting upside, though the Texas A&M game showed how much his production depends on the deep shots landing.
How other scouting services rate Austin Simmons (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
58.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
11.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.