Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State
Size:
Height: 6017
Weight: 229
Arm: 31 ¼”
Hand: 9 ¾”
Accomplishments:
First-Team All-Big Ten (2024)
“Cody Simon is a physical presence at the second level and uses his high football IQ to make splash plays for a defense.”
Strengths:
Versatility
Physicality
Football IQ
Play recognition
Coverage ability
Concerns:
Consistently using arms to take on blocks
Going down to ankles on tackles
Lateral stop-and-start quickness
Film Analysis:
Cody Simon earned a four-star ranking in 2019 while playing for St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J., and was a top-five recruit from the state. Before his senior season, he recorded 89 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks as a junior. He committed to Ohio State and redshirted his freshman season after appearing in five games.
Throughout his career at Ohio State, he played in 57 games and accumulated 259 tackles (115 solo), including 25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one interception, and 11 passes defended. Everything came together in his fifth year, and he had the best season of his collegiate career. Simon compiled 112 tackles (51 solo), 13 tackles for loss, and seven sacks with seven passes defensed.
Simon was a versatile defender for the Buckeyes under linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, where he saw his production skyrocket and comfort in space set in. His football IQ in diagnosing plays and quickly triggering downhill for run fits pops on tape. Engaging more confidently and consistently with his arms when taking on blocks will help him shed blocks, but he knifes in and out of blocks quickly while being able to undercut blocks and close on the ball-carrier.
He’s an assignment-sound run defender and follows pullers and misdirection well while communicating with his teammates. His overall length might become an issue against NFL blockers, but his physical nature and quick twitch can mitigate some of those concerns. He shored up some of his tackling concerns in 2024, but he ends up around ball-carriers’ ankles too often. Squaring up and taking better angles will improve that going forward.
Simon is a ball of energy at the snap, bouncing around with good intentions while maintaining control of his ability to trigger and get into coverage. He’s smooth and athletic dropping into zone and quickly identifies receivers coming into his area, making sure to give them a push every time he’s crossed. When he has to stop and change lateral directions quickly, there’s a slight delay in re-accelerating, but he mirrors the quarterback's eyes well to stay ahead of the play. He can cover tight ends and running backs in man coverage, and his hips change direction well enough to pick up and move with receivers in space.
His click-and-close ability is useful in getting downhill to blow up screen plays, throws to the flat, and when closing on quarterbacks scrambling out of the pocket. His willingness to contact receivers entering his space can take him out of his zone, but he’s quick to recover while keeping his eyes on the quarterback. He’s an excellent blitzer with his downhill speed and times them well against the offensive line, often coming unblocked.
Simon improved dramatically in his final season at Ohio State and has shown all the qualities to project as an eventual green-dot linebacker at the next level. His coverage ability gives him a healthy floor for an NFL defense as he learns the system he’ll play in, and the versatility to play all three linebacker positions could see him earn playing time very early on.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Daniel Harms
Exposures: Oregon (2025), Texas (2025), Notre Dame (2025), Penn State (2024)
