Mikell Simpson
Encyclopedia
Mikell V. Simpson is an American college football
player. He was most recently a running back
for the Virginia Cavaliers
of the University of Virginia
.
, Pennsylvania
and is the son of John Culp. He attended Harrisburg High School. As a junior, he recorded 88 carries for 862 yards and 21 touchdowns, and as a senior, recorded 51 carries for 456 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Simpson also made 23 receptions for 520 yards and five touchdowns and five interceptions. He was named a SuperPrep All-American.
He received offers from Virginia, Alabama
, Florida
, Michigan State
, North Carolina
, and UCLA
.
. In 2006, he saw action in six games.
In 2007, he had his break out year. Simpson recorded 570 rushing yards, 402 receiving yards, and ten touchdowns. He was the second-leading rusher on the Virginia team. During the summer training camp, he had been converted from a tailback
to wide receiver
. He saw little action in the first half of the season, and by Week 7 had made just four receptions for 31 yards. Before the Maryland
game, Simpson was moved back to tailback. In that game, he rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 152 yards, making him the sixth player in Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) history to record 100 yards both rushing and receiving in a single game. In the final minutes of play, Virginia made a 90-yard drive, with Simpson making touches on 14 out of 15 of those plays. It culminated with a one-yard Simpson rush for the game-winning touchdown. For his performance against Maryland, he was named the ACC Offensive Back of the Week. In the 2008 Gator Bowl
loss to Texas Tech
, Simpson had 170 rushing yards on 20 carries, including a 96-yard touchdown run. It marked the longest rush in Virginia school history, the second-longest rush in NCAA bowl game history, the longest rush by any Division I player during the 2007 season
, and the longest rush in an NCAA bowl game by a running back. For his performance, Simpson was named Gator Bowl
Most Valuable Player alongside Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell
.
In 2008, Simpson was again the second-leading rusher, behind Cedric Peerman
. He played in nine games, recording 87 carries for 262 yards and three touchdowns, and 15 receptions for 66 yards. Simpson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against Miami
.
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...
player. He was most recently a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
Early years
Simpson was born in HarrisburgHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and is the son of John Culp. He attended Harrisburg High School. As a junior, he recorded 88 carries for 862 yards and 21 touchdowns, and as a senior, recorded 51 carries for 456 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Simpson also made 23 receptions for 520 yards and five touchdowns and five interceptions. He was named a SuperPrep All-American.
He received offers from Virginia, Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
, Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
, Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
, North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
, and UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
.
College career
In 2005, Simpson sat out as a redshirtRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
. In 2006, he saw action in six games.
In 2007, he had his break out year. Simpson recorded 570 rushing yards, 402 receiving yards, and ten touchdowns. He was the second-leading rusher on the Virginia team. During the summer training camp, he had been converted from a tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
to wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. He saw little action in the first half of the season, and by Week 7 had made just four receptions for 31 yards. Before the Maryland
2007 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2007 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was the Terrapins' 55th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and its third within the...
game, Simpson was moved back to tailback. In that game, he rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 152 yards, making him the sixth player in Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC) history to record 100 yards both rushing and receiving in a single game. In the final minutes of play, Virginia made a 90-yard drive, with Simpson making touches on 14 out of 15 of those plays. It culminated with a one-yard Simpson rush for the game-winning touchdown. For his performance against Maryland, he was named the ACC Offensive Back of the Week. In the 2008 Gator Bowl
2008 Gator Bowl
The 2008 Gator Bowl was played on January 1, 2008 as part of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It featured the Red Raiders of Texas Tech University, who finished 3rd in the Big 12 Conference's South Division, and the Cavaliers of the University of Virginia, who finished 2nd in the...
loss to Texas Tech
2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
The 2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the college football season of 2007–2008. The team was coached by Mike Leach...
, Simpson had 170 rushing yards on 20 carries, including a 96-yard touchdown run. It marked the longest rush in Virginia school history, the second-longest rush in NCAA bowl game history, the longest rush by any Division I player during the 2007 season
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
, and the longest rush in an NCAA bowl game by a running back. For his performance, Simpson was named Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
Most Valuable Player alongside Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell is an American football quarterback. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers and is currently on their scout team. He played college football at Texas Tech.-Early years:...
.
In 2008, Simpson was again the second-leading rusher, behind Cedric Peerman
Cedric Peerman
Cedric Edwin Peerman is an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
. He played in nine games, recording 87 carries for 262 yards and three touchdowns, and 15 receptions for 66 yards. Simpson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against Miami
2008 Miami Hurricanes football team
-Roster changes:University of Miami safety Kenny Phillips and defensive end Calais Campbell made the decision to forgo their senior years and declare for the NFL Draft. Phillips was drafted in the first round, No. 31 overall by the New York Giants. Campbell was drafted in the second round, No. 50...
.