COMMITIMENT DONE DEAL: Arizona state sun devils commit defensive back 5-star to show off elite talent

For a century, the East-West Shrine Bowl has provided top college football players with a final opportunity to showcase their skills in an all-star game.

Players from various conferences and divisions are selected to participate, undergoing four practice sessions before competing in the highly anticipated matchup on Thursday. Arizona State safety Shamari Simmons emerged as one of the standout defensive back prospects throughout the week leading up to the game.

On Thursday morning, Simmons was named to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl West All-Practice Team, solidifying his status as one of the event’s top performers just hours before kickoff.

During Shrine Bowl practices, Simmons consistently impressed NFL scouts, establishing himself as one of the premier defensive backs in attendance. His standout moment came on Sunday when he intercepted Minnesota quarterback Max Bosmer in practice, catching the attention of NFL Draft Diamonds DB evaluator Malik Boynton. Boynton took to X to praise Simmons after his second practice interception and doubled down on his evaluation the following day.

Simmons played a key role in Arizona State’s star-studded secondary, recording four forced fumbles and an interception during the season. His most memorable play came in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, where he forced a fumble in the end zone for a safety, igniting a potential Sun Devils comeback. Before transferring to ASU for his final two seasons, Simmons spent two years at FCS Austin Peay. Over four collegiate seasons, he amassed 212 tackles, nine interceptions, five forced fumbles, 15 pass deflections, and a sack.