Ron Simmons was a monumental piece of a Warner Robins’ state and National Sports News Service national championship team that went 13-0 and is considered by some to be the most dominant high school football team in Georgia history. Simmons, a defensive lineman and tight end, was the AJC Class 3A Lineman of the Year, a Coach Athlete All-American and Joe Namath All-American. As a senior, he accumulated 130 tackles. He continued his football career at Florida State and became the Seminoles’ first two-time consensus All-American (1979-80). As a freshman, he recorded 128 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and 13 forced fumbles. He finished his collegiate career with 383 total tackles, 44 tackles for loss, 25 sacks, 17 forced fumbles and four blocked kicks. He was the first defensive player to have his number (50) retired at FSU and just the third player in program history. Simmons was drafted into the National Football League in 1981, and played four seasons in the CFL and USFL before becoming a professional wrestler and the WCW heavyweight champion in 1992. Simmons was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2012.
