Simmons, Jones Get First-Team Nods

Sun. January 06, 2013 at 4:23 a.m. | By Bill Kemp

By BILL KEMP | LEDGER MEDIA GROUP

The 2012 Florida Class 7A and 8A All-State football teams were released Saturday with Lakeland and George Jenkins landing two players each on the 7A team, including two first-team selections.

Lakeland senior linebacker T.J. Simmons and Jenkins senior punter Chandler Jones were first-team selections on defense.

The 6-foot, 220-pound Simmons racked up 104 tackles with two sacks, one interception and forced one fumble last season. He has already graduated and has enrolled at Indiana where he will be playing for the Hoosiers next season.

Jones averaged over 41 yards per punt for the Eagles in 2012. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound kicking specialist is uncommitted.

Dreadnaughts' senior Jalen Stevenson was a second-team selection on defense. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound lineman has an offer from Indiana but is uncommitted. He recorded 49 tackles, 10 sacks and one fumble recovery last season.

Jenkins' defensive lineman Tanner Reeves was an honorable mention. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior has offers from Youngstown State, Western Kentucky and Buffalo. He had 61 tackles, 12 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble for the Eagles in 2012.

Polk County placed 33 players, including seven first-teamers, on the eight All-State teams released this week. Class 6A Lake Gibson led the county with five All-State players followed by Class 5A teams Auburndale and Lake Wales with three each. There were 10 county players on the Class 6A roster with three making first team.

The Class 7A and 8A teams were chosen by newspaper editors and reporters from across the state. There are no Polk County schools playing in Class 8A.

The Class 1A and 2A were released Wednesday, the Class 3A and 4A were released Thursday and the Class 5A and 6A were released Friday.