Josh Simmons is a well-known name among NFL scouts, but there’s more to his story than impressive stats and an ACL rehab timeline. His journey includes penalties, position changes, and transfer portal buzz. Now standing tall at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds and generating Day 2 draft chatter, Simmons has fans eager to learn more.
He’s worked hard to rise from San Diego to Ohio State, and now he’s making headlines as a serious NFL Draft prospect. As draft day approaches, fans are asking: Where does his strength come from? What drives him? And what’s his story? Let’s break it down.
What is Josh Simmons’s religious belief?
Simmons has, to date, kept a very low-key profile regarding his personal life and beliefs. He’s quiet when it comes to faith. There are no major public statements, interviews, or social media posts wherein he directly affirms a specific religious belief. But that doesn’t mean the influence isn’t there. If we look closer, the signs become evident.
Credit: @AroundTheNFL
His Samoan heritage is evident in his last name; his mother, Anna Ma’afala, raised him in San Diego. It is his Samoan roots. And, owing to the Pacific Islander culture, it becomes known that Christianity is in the DNA. Be it Protestant, Catholic, or LDS, Polynesian families tend to raise their kids in the faith. And, given that Josh stuck around San Diego early in his college career to support his mom and grandma when times were tough, it is more than just about family duty. It is something cultural and spiritual. So, even without a direct statement from Simmons himself, his Christian values have seemingly been an important part of his journey.
What is Josh’s ethnicity?
When it comes to ethnicity, Josh Simmons has mixed ethnic heritage. And, it is a combination of African-American and Polynesian ancestry. His mother, Anna Ma’afala, is of Samoan descent. And, it is likely that Simmons is at least half Samoan. Even his uncle is Chris Fuamatu-Maʻafala, the NFL fullback, had a 7-year career with the Steelers and Jaguars. And, we definitely know that Simmons has inherited that island strength.
Credit: @TheTexansWire
When it comes to his dad, Nelson Simmons, he is a former MLB player who played with the Tigers and Orioles back in the ’90s. While Nelson’s full ethnic background isn’t mentioned, Simmons’ surname and baseball resume point toward African-American heritage. Josh Simmons thus brings about a blend of cultures with his diverse upbringing in San Diego, where he attended Helix High School and later Madison High School.
As NFL teams weigh his draft stock against injury concerns, Josh Simmons’ religion and ethnicity become his ultimate strength.
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