The story is one that makes you feel good.

"He's the kind of kid that you really want to do well," said University of Louisiana defensive coordinator Brent Pry.

It is kind of a fairy tale, how Wes Simon earned a spot on the Ragin' Cajun squad and became one of the most consistent cogs on the defensive unit.

"I saw myself playing college football," Simon said. "But I saw myself maybe playing strong safety."

Safety was his position in an award-filled career at Notre Dame High, where he earned All-State, All-Star Game and parish defensive MVP honors.

So what's the 6-foot, barely-200-pound Simon doing at linebacker?

Necessity, Pry said.

"He's an undersized linebacker," Pry said, "and he's playing there because we need him there. He could potentially play a strong safety for us, but there's no question he can play linebacker because he's plenty tough enough."

Simon's abilities came into play Saturday against the multiple attack of Eastern Michigan, one that required the Cajun linebackers to maintain assignments. He responded with a team-high 10 tackles including a sack, and now has 15 stops two games into his junior season heading into Saturday's 7 p.m. home opener against Northwestern State.

"He's very knowledgable of our whole defense, and very attentive to checks and adjustments," Pry said. "He helps all our linebackers out ... that's the kind of awareness he has."

In his prep career, he had the advantage of watching things develop from his safety slot. Now, he's part of a front unit that is built on attacking the line of scrimmage.

"I try to use my quickness a lot," Simon said. "It's okay when you have some space to work with, but taking on some of those offensive linemen can be tough inside. You just do what you can do."

The rest of the story

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com