Utah State senior to play in the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Utah State senior offensive tackle, Jake Simonich, will play in the sixth annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, on Saturday.

The three-year starter never missed a game in his career with the Aggies, anchoring the right tackle position for quarterbacks Darell Garretson, Chuckie Keeton and most recently Kent Myers.

Simonich, a 6-foot-5, 305-pound offensive lineman from Danville, California, started eight games at right guard and four at right tackle during his senior season in 2016, earning an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention along the way. He had an overall performance grade of 87 percent. During his senior campaign, he graded out at 91 percent in effort, including nine games better than 90 percent; 87 percent in assignment, including five games better than 90 percent; and 79 percent in technique, including nine games better than 80 percent.

Simonich also earned All-Mountain West honors in his sophomore and junior years. The California-native even won the Iron Aggie Award in 2014, an acknowledgement from the team for the hardest worker and the most progress in the weight room.

For his career, Simonich played in 52 games at Utah State, which ties B.J. Larsen for second all-time in school history. Both trail Jordan Nielsen, who played in 53 career games.

Other Mountain West players participating in the bowl game are UNLV’s Torry McTyler, Jeremiah Valoaga, and Tau Lotulelei, San Jose State’s Isaiah Irving and San Diego State’s Daniel Brunskill.

BYU and the University of Utah both have three players that have committed to play in the bowl game. Representing the Cougars will be Kai Nacua, Andrew Eide and Algernon Brown. The Utes are sending Puta Taumoepenu, Reggie Porter and Brian Allen.

This marks the first appearance of a Utah State player in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Kickoff for the game is scheduled at 2:15 p.m., Mountain Time, and will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1.