Wheeling, W. Va. - Over the last several weeks, NFL Draft Diamonds has released interviews with hundreds of 2023 NFL Draft prospects across NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA. So far, three Wheeling University Football players have been featured, with wide receiver Lowell Patron, cornerback Rich White III, and running back Sy Alli all sitting down for interviews. Over the weekend, a fourth Cardinals player was added to the list as Justin Berendzen sat down with Cardinals linebacker Jason Simon.
Simon played his first season with Wheeling University in 2022 and earned All-MEC Honorable Mention honors for his effort. He tied for second on the team with 62.0 tackles last season and was second with 19 assisted tackles on the year. He was also second on the team in sacks (3.5) and third on the team in tackles for loss (8.0) totaling 28 yards. Simon started all 11 games for the Cardinals as an outside linebacker last season and returns to anchor a Wheeling defense that is looking to build off the best season in program history in 2021.
As a unit, the Cardinals allowed a program-best 21.7 points per game last season and ranked seventh in the MEC in both sacks (23) and sack yardage (148). They recorded the first shutout in program history on October 2nd, when they defeated West Virginia Wesleyan 38-0 in a game where Simon totaled five tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack. With Simon returning at the outside linebacker position in 2022, the Cardinals secondary and pass rush game look to continue to get after the quarterback as they look to take the next step to the team's first above .500 mark in history.
Simon highlighted his relentless energy on the field and his faith in the interview as his big motivating factors on the field.
"I'm a guy who just steps on the field and goes all out," Simon told NFL Draft Diamonds. "Everytime I face a challenge, I usually call my mom and pray about it with a bible verse where on of the apostles has a challenge and it's in God's hands. God will always find me an answer."
To view the full NFL Draft Diamonds interview with Jason Simon, click HERE. The Wheeling University Football team will report to campus on Saturday, August 6th, and will follow camp with their first game of the season on Thursday, September 1st, when they take on Seton Hill at 7 PM.
