MARION (WSIL) -- Hunter Simmons led Marion Football to an undefeated season and threw for 1,693 yards and 13 touchdowns over six games this past season.
On Wednesday, the Wildcats quarterback made things official, signed a scholarship to play for Southern Illinois University.
"When they came through with the offer, I was excited," Simmons said. "It's always been a dream to play for the hometown school SIU."
It's been a journey for Hunter Simmons. He suffered a season ending injury in the first game of his sophomore year at Mt. Vernon, played his junior year, but not enough tape to get offers. Simmons transferred to Marion to increase his opportunities and then COVID hit. No fall football in Illinois. Other states played, scholarships were being taken, but Hunter trusted the process.
"It could be hard at other schools but when you get around the culture they've built here at Marion and you get around the guys and the coaching staff, it's always team first. The coaching staff are people you can really buy into."
"Blending in well with his teammates, they loved him from day one," Marion Head Football Coach Kerry Martin said.
"I've often used this saying for him. He could've really been loved here because of what he could do, but I think he became loved here because of who he is as a person."
In a shortened 6 week spring season, Hunter Simmons mesmerized us with his throws.
"From a young age always knew I wanted to be a quarterback so ever since I started playing football I started working on every throw possible," Simmons said.
"The kind of character he has, his ability to lead, not only lead with his words, but by example, I think his intelligence, his ability to analyze a situation and find the open the receiver and check the defense and knowing where the defense is coming from those are things we didn't know a lot about that aspect of his game until he played here," Martin said.
Many times made nothing into something and that describes Hunter's future. The only scholarship offer prior to the season was to Du Page Junior College but by seasons end Marion was undefeated, their first perfect season since 1963. Illinois and Central Michigan told Hunter he could try and make their team as a preferred Walk ON. SIU Offered a scholarship and that's all he needed to hear.
"Going to the camps back two years ago, me and Coach Hill, we've built a pretty good relationship. It's a place where I can not only go in as a player and grow as a player but grow as a person," Simmons said.
We see the highlight clips but what exactly is SIU getting by signing Hunter Simmons as a quarterback.
"You can watch the tape and see what I can do on the field," Simmons said. "It's important but not the most important characteristic of a quarterback. I feel like when I walk in the door at SIU I can really become a leader and give the team the leadership they need but also I'm a hard worker. I'm going to push everyone the same. I expect the best out of everyone as I expect out of myself."
"My belief, based on my career, based on my experiences, they got a very special quarterback, a very special athlete and a very special person coming to their university," Martin said. "I think he not only has the tangible things you look for in a quarterback, but he has those intangible things that will transfer well to a Nick Hill led program."
Hunter has a reputation for processing information quickly. A student of the game.
"When you watch the film and translate that to the game you can really see the game slow down out there," Simmons said.
