April 17, 2009

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Junior linebacker Tyler Simmons (Goldsby, Okla.) was named the winner of the Vice Admiral William P. Mack Award at halftime of Friday's annual Blue-Gold Football Game.

The Admiral Mack Award is given to the player voted by the coaching staff as the most improved player during spring football drills. Simmons is the fifth inside linebacker to win the award in its 34 years of existence and the first since Bobby McClarin won the award in 2003. Outside linebacker Craig Schaefer won the award last year.

"Tyler Simmons played like a mad man all spring, he was all over the field making plays and he played with great intensity," said Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo. "With Clint Sovie moving to outside linebacker, we were hoping Tyler would step up and take advantage of the opportunity and he exceeded even our expectations. He is breathing down the necks of Ross Pospisil and Tony Haberer for one of the starting linebacker spots."

Simmons saw action in all 13 games last fall, mostly on special teams, for a Navy team that posted an 8-5 record and won a sixth-consecutive Commander-In-Chief's Trophy.