Ko Simpson
Encyclopedia
Yukota "Ko" Simpson is an American football
safety who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at South Carolina
.
He has also played for the Detroit Lions
.
and attended Castle Heights Middle School and Rock Hill High School
where he helped lead the team to a Class AAAA State Championship playing on both offense
and defense
. He signed a letter of intent
with South Carolina in 2003, but did not enroll until spring of 2004 under then head coach
Lou Holtz
.
, in only his second collegiate game, he intercepted a David Greene pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Gamecocks' win over Arkansas
which included a fumble recovery returned 57 yards for a touchdown.
His six interceptions led the Southeastern Conference and he was named Freshman of the Year in the SEC by the Associated Press
, becoming the first South Carolina player to ever win the award.
As a sophomore, Simpson had 103 total tackles, two fumble returns and an interception. He was consensus All-SEC and named a Football Writers Association All-American.
by the Buffalo Bills
in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft
. He had recorded 77 tackles 1 FF and 2 INT in his 2006 rookie
season
. Against the Denver Broncos
in week 1 of the 2007 season, he broke his left ankle after his feet were cut out from under him by teammate Jason Webster
while making a tackle on Javon Walker
. On September 11, 2007 Ko was placed on injured reserve
, ending his 2007 campaign.
in exchange for a their 7th round pick on September 4, 2009. On November 25, Simpson was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
He was released by the Lions on September 4, 2010.
On January 1, 2009 Simpson was arrested by a Rock Hill, SC police officer for hindering police while they were attempting to break up an unruly crowd. According to the police report, Simpson verbally abused officers and told them, "I'm Ko Simpson with the Buffalo Bills. I am worth millions!" He has applied to enter a diversionary program; the arrest can then be removed from his record if he complies with the conditions of the program.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
.
He has also played for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
Early life
Simpson was born in Rock Hill, South CarolinaRock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between...
and attended Castle Heights Middle School and Rock Hill High School
Rock Hill High School
Rock Hill High School was the first of the three high schools in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It offers the International Baccalaureate diploma to its senior class students, as well as duel credit and Advanced Placement...
where he helped lead the team to a Class AAAA State Championship playing on both offense
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
and defense
Defense (sport)
In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense...
. He signed a letter of intent
Letter of intent
A letter of intent is a document outlining an agreement between two or more parties before the agreement is finalized. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement...
with South Carolina in 2003, but did not enroll until spring of 2004 under then head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
.
College career
In his freshman season, Simpson recorded 50 solo tackles, 11 assists and six interceptions. Against GeorgiaGeorgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...
, in only his second collegiate game, he intercepted a David Greene pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Gamecocks' win over Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
which included a fumble recovery returned 57 yards for a touchdown.
His six interceptions led the Southeastern Conference and he was named Freshman of the Year in the SEC by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, becoming the first South Carolina player to ever win the award.
As a sophomore, Simpson had 103 total tackles, two fumble returns and an interception. He was consensus All-SEC and named a Football Writers Association All-American.
Buffalo Bills
Simpson was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. He had recorded 77 tackles 1 FF and 2 INT in his 2006 rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
. Against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in week 1 of the 2007 season, he broke his left ankle after his feet were cut out from under him by teammate Jason Webster
Jason Webster
Jason Richmond Webster is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
while making a tackle on Javon Walker
Javon Walker
Javon Lataff Walker is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 20th overall of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
. On September 11, 2007 Ko was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
, ending his 2007 campaign.
Detroit Lions
Simpson was traded to the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in exchange for a their 7th round pick on September 4, 2009. On November 25, Simpson was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
He was released by the Lions on September 4, 2010.
Personal life
Simpson and his girlfriend, Natasha Brice, are expecting their first child, a son, at the end of August. They will name him after Simpson, Yukota Ja’marr Simpson Jr.On January 1, 2009 Simpson was arrested by a Rock Hill, SC police officer for hindering police while they were attempting to break up an unruly crowd. According to the police report, Simpson verbally abused officers and told them, "I'm Ko Simpson with the Buffalo Bills. I am worth millions!" He has applied to enter a diversionary program; the arrest can then be removed from his record if he complies with the conditions of the program.