Jerome Simpson

Infobox NFLactive
name=Jerome Simpson


caption =
currentteam=Cincinnati Bengals
currentnumber=89
currentposition=Wide Receiver
|birthdate=birth date and age|1986|2|4
birthplace=Reidsville, North Carolina
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=190
debutyear=2008
debutteam=Cincinnati Bengals
college=Coastal Carolina
draftyear=2008
draftround=2
draftpick=46
pastteams=
* Cincinnati Bengals (2008-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* Big South Freshman of the Year (2004)
* Second-team All-Big South (2005)
* 2x First-team All-Big South (2006-2007)
* Second-team AP All-American (2006)
* Consensus All-American (2007)
statweek=
statseason=
statlabel1=
statvalue1=
statlabel2=
statvalue2=
statlabel3=
statvalue3=
nfl=SIM531556

Jerome Louis Simpson (born February 4 1986 in city-state|Reidsville|North Carolina) is an American Football wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football and participated in track and field at Coastal Carolina. He was incorrectly listed as 29 years of age in the Madden 2009 video game.

High school

Jerome Simpson participated in football, basketball, and track while attending Reidsville High School. As a receiver in football, Simpson was an all-state selection as he led the Rams to consecutive state titles. In his senior season, Simpson won team MVP and set a championship record with 13 receptions for 133 yards and also added a 62-yard touchdown pass. He missed three games his final season, but still managed to total 96 receptions for 1,324 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming the team's all-time receptions leader. He also played in the North Carolina Shrine Bowl and in the East-West annual game.

In basketball, Simpson led the Rams to their first state basketball championship since 1995. As a senior, he scored 19 points in the title game and winning team MVP honors. He also ran on the state champion 400-meter relay team with a time of 3:21 in track.

Collegiate career

Freshman season

Jerome Simpson enrolled at Coastal Carolina University in 2004 and started all 11 games as a true freshman at receiver. In the season opener against Morehead State, Simpson recorded four catches for 59 yards and two scores in his collegiate debut. The following game, against Davidson, Simpson totaled 89 yards on six receptions for a touchdown. Against Charleston, Simpson recorded his first ever 100-yard receiving game. He finished the season with 26 catches for 419 yards and eight touchdowns and was honored as the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year.

ophomore season

After his breakout freshman season, Simpson only started six of the eleven games he played in as a sophomore. However, he was named second-team All-Big South and was named to the South Carolina All-Star Team. He finished the season leading the team with 33 receptions for 527 yards and nine touchdowns, all single-season school records. In his best game of the season, the victory over James Madison, Simpson set a school record with 10 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Against Savannah State, Simpson set another school-record with a 60-yard reception for a touchdown.

Simpson also was a member of the 2006 Big South Men's Championship Track and Field squad. Simpson earned All-Big South honors after finished third in the high jump and long jump, setting a new school record for high jump with 2.05 meters.

Junior season

As a junior in 2006, Simpson started in 10 of 12 games on the season, as well as earning numerous accolades. He was named first-team All-Big South, second-team All-American and South Carolina All-Star selections. He finished his season with 61 receptions for 1,077 yards and a Big South record 16 touchdowns, all school records. Against Georgia Southern, Simpson set a school record with 207 yards and two scores on only eight receptions. Against #3 Furman, he recorded 151 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown reception. In the school's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance, Simpson recorded 132 yards and two touchdowns against #1 Appalachian State. Simpson led the Big South with five games of 100 yards receiving or more.

Simpson against competed in track and field as a junior, finished third in the NCAA Regionals in long jump and qualified for the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He was also a part of the 400-meter relay team that set a school record at the Championships.

enior season

In his final collegiate season, 2007, Jerome Simpson broke virtually every receiving record in school history while playing in all 11 games. He also set numerous Big South records as a receiver and in track and field competition. However, he only posted 41 receptions for 697 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season, all lower than his junior totals.

Professional career

Cincinnati Bengals

Jerome Simpson was selected in the 2nd round, 46th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. He was signed to a four-year contract after the start of camp.

External links

* [http://www.bengals.com/team/player.asp?player_id=195 Cincinnati Bengals bio]