ASU’s Montana Warren likely to start in place of Shamari Simmons in New Year’s Peach Bowl
Dec 18, 2024, 5:28 PM
Arizona State defensive back Montana Warren will likely start in place of Shamari Simmons in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day, coach Kenny Dillingham said Wednesday at a team practice.
After Simmons’ targeting penalty against Iowa State was appealed to no avail on Monday, Dillingham said the redshirt freshman Warren will be a piece of the defense’s nickel package. The whole defensive scheme, though, will not look entirely different with Simmons set to return in the second half against the winner of Clemson and Texas.
With Warren in, Dillingham noted his backup needs another layer of reps in practice.
“There’s a really fine line and ‘oh crap’ scenarios, which you don’t want to dance with too much, because you still have to prepare two guys to play,” Dillingham said.
Warren has recorded 52 snaps this season across seven games, with 32 designed for coverage. This is in stark contrast to Simmons who has seen action for 791 snaps and pressured the quarterback 18 times compared to Warren who has yet to record one pressure.
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The lack of experience combined with the big stage of the College Football Playoff is of little concern to ASU defensive coordinator Brian Ward, who said their end product will be matchup-based.
“Our philosophy in our backend has been be able to get guys ready, and have guys in my room that have to be able to learn three positions,” Ward said. “So, we have a couple of variables we are able to work with … so, it’s really mirrored positions our strong and our nickel, and a lot of what our free safety does is mirrored as well. Again, it’s all going to be about personnel for us and matchups.”
Ward said that Warren has flashed his potential in limited play this season but he will really get the chance to showcase his abilities in Atlanta.
Warren has something that Simmons, despite his major impact, does not: a touchdown. It came in the form of a 46-yard return against UCF after linebacker Martell Hughes blocked a punt in the first quarter on Nov. 9. The score proved invaluable, as the Sun Devils hung on to win 35-31 in Tempe and effectively kept their postseason hopes alive.
Ward said ASU’s success has been a byproduct of trusting the process from week to week.
“Having depth and having a team that’s process oriented, wins and losses oriented has really led to the success we’ve had this year, and the wins have taken care of themselves,” Ward said. “We really don’t change what we do on defense, and football is really about repetition. When guys rep the same calls, the same adjustments, the same fits and the same things over and over, those pictures become familiar to them.”
Why will Montana Warren be temporarily filling in for Shamari Simmons?
Simmons was nailed with a targeting call on the first play of the fourth quarter in the Big 12 Championship game. With ASU firmly in control, 45-10, he made helmet-to-helmet contact with Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht.
The graduate student was forced to exit the game and will enter the second half of the Peach Bowl with 70 tackles, three forced fumbles, an interception and three passes defensed.
Simmons leads the Sun Devils’ defense in tackles for loss (seven) and is fourth in tackles (70).
Dillingham had previously mentioned Kyan McDonald as Simmons’ replacement last week. The freshman defensive back has logged 40 snaps, including 18 in the Big 12 Championship, and two tackles in five games.
In addition to his leadership on the field, Simmons is one of 12 players on the Tillman Leadership Council that meet with Dillingham regarding overall team plans.
