Pronunciation: SIGH-mun

Major: Sports & Leisure Studies (2012), Exercise Science (2010-11)

Weight: 260 (2012), 270 (2010-11), 265 (2009)

2012 Media Guide: Good luck trying to find anyone in college football this year more aggressive or relentless along the defensive line than John Simon … or a better leader on and off the field … his efforts are exemplary, always, and he takes the added measure of pulling guys along with him – Ryan Shazier and Curtis Grant are two of his 6 a.m. workout buddies – for extra running, training or studying, something Coach Urban Meyer calls “harnessing the power of the elite” … “Ohio State is getting better,” Meyer says, [because Simon is leading the way] … expect Simon to become only the seventh two-time
captain in Ohio State history this season and the first since James Laurinaitis (2007 and 2009) … he enters his senior campaign with 11.5 career sacks and 28.5 career tackles-for-loss … is on the preseason watch lists for the Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Nagurski Award and the
Bednarik Award … … he was named a third-team Associated Press All-American in 2011 and he was also named first-team All-Big Ten Conference by the league’s coaches … he was a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and also was honored with Ohio State’s Bill Willis Award as the team’s outstanding defensive player … Simon played multiple positions along the line last season and lead the Buckeyes with seven quarterback sacks and 16 tackles for loss (for minus-59 yards), figures that ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, in the Big Ten Conference … he also accumulated 53 tackles and broke up three passes … he was named the Big Ten defensive player of the week after a nine-tackle performance against Illinois that included four TFLs (second-highest total in school history) and two sacks … he had a career-best 10 tackles vs. Indiana … as a true sophomore in 2010 he played in and started all 13 games and was named honorable mention all-Big Ten … he returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown vs.
Minnesota.

2011 Media Guide: 55 career tackles, 12 TFL … Lott Trophy nominee.

2010: Earned a starting spot at tackle … honorable mention all-Big Ten … 10-yard sack of Miami’s Jacory Harris … TFL against Ohio … recovered an Eastern Michigan fumble … 6 tackles at Wisconsin … returned a Minnesota fumble 30 yards for a touchdown … 4 tackles and a TFL against Penn State … 6-yard sack and 4 tackles at Iowa … 5 tackles and a TFL in the Michigan win … sack and 3 tackles vs. Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl … defensive player of week: Eastern Michigan … Attack Force award: Iowa … second-year letterman.

2010 Media Guide: Promising defensive lineman who plays with power and strength … making a bid during spring practice to become the starter at right tackle … disciplined and dedicated in the weight room and the film room.

2009: Earned increased playing time at defensive tackle as a true freshman … 16 tackles for the season … TFL in the Toledo game … tipped a Purdue pass … sack and forced a Minnesota fumble … pair of tackles in New Mexico State win … four tackles, two TFL at Michigan … outstanding first-year defensive player from Ohio State coaches … Top Ten Tenacious six times, second-most on the team … first-year letterwinner.

High School: Dominant defensive lineman with power and strength … all-Ohio as a junior and senior for Coach P.J. Fecko … Division IV state and NEO defensive player of the year … 148 tackles, 13 TFL, 11 sacks, 3 forced fumbles as a senior … Cardinals advanced to the regional semifinals after four consecutive trips to the state title game … U.S. Army All-American game … Super Prep Midwest Top 20 … holds a number of Mooney weightlifting records … National Honor Society … Cardinal Mooney Ambassador.

Personal: Son of Renee and John Simon.