By Danielle Daniels

Cody Simon OSU LB Michigan Week Preview 11 26 2024.mp3

THE PRESS CONFERENCE QUESTIONS

*A WIN OVER MICHIGAN WOULD MEAN WHAT?

*DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME?

*HIS EMOTIONS THIS WEEK?

*MICHIGAN’S RECORD OF 6-5, 4-4 BTC MEANS NOTHING IN THIS GAME?

*GAME PREP

*MICHIGAN IS 128TH IN OFFENSE, ANY CONCERNS?

*AS A LB COVERING COLSTON LOVELAND?

*WANTING TO WIN FOR RYAN DAY, DO YOU FEEL PRESSURE?

*QB WILL HOWARD’S LEADERSHIP?

*WHAT HAS HE SEEN IN HOWARD’S IMPROVEMENT EACH WEEK?

*ON CALEB DOWNS, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN OF HIM?

*DOES HE TALK ON THE FIELD ABOUT SITUATIONS?

*OSU HAS BEEN QUESTIONED THE PAST 3 YEARS ABOUT THE MICHIGAN GAME, LOSING BECAUSE OF NO PHYSICALITY?

*ON THE SPECIAL TEAMS

THE CODY SIMON FILE

• Position:

  Linebacker

• Height:

  6-2

• Weight:

  235

• Hometown:

  Jersey City, N.J.

• Last School:

  St. Peter’s Prep

• Year:

  Graduate Student

Follow on Social Media
Twitter: @Cody_Simon30
Instagram: @codysimon__

Ohio State Overview
• Cody is an experienced, veteran linebacker who is in his fifth season with the program
• He is the most experienced linebacker on the team and will be looked at as a leader of his unit in 2024
• He has played in 44 games and started 15 times with 10 starts during the 2021 season and five in 2023
• Enters 2024 with 147 career tackles and 11 tackles-for-loss
• Ranked fourth on the team in tackles in 2023 with 57
• His 57 tackles, 24 solo stops and 33 assists were all career high totals
• Recorded a career-high 12 tackles in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl vs. Missouri
• Had nine assisted tackles against Rutgers and eight total tackles vs. Purdue
• Ranked seventh on the team in 2022 in tackles with 32 after ranking fourth in 2021 with 54 total tackles
• Also contributed a career-high 5.5 tackles-for-loss in 2022 for minus-21 yards
• Had eight tackles vs. Nebraska in 2021 and had seven vs. Minnesota, Maryland and Michigan
• Recorded is first career interception against Akron in 2021
• Did not play in the Rose Bowl vs. Utah because of injury, and also sat out the 2022 spring season while recovering
• Played in six games as a true freshman in 2020, finding a role on special teams while also providing depth at linebacker
• Is a Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar, a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Academic all-Big Ten honoree who has graduated with his degree in finance and is currently working on a master’s degree in human development and family services

Honors & Awards
2023: Graduated in December with his degree in finance, Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar, OSU Scholar-Athlete; Academic all-Big Ten Conference
2022: OSU Scholar-Athlete; Academic all-Big Ten Conference
2021: OSU Scholar-Athlete; Academic all-Big Ten Conference
2020: OSU Scholar-Athlete

More on Cody
• The No. 9-rated outside linebacker nationally and No. 3 player in the state of New Jersey
• A composite four-star prospect by 247Sports.com
• Played for St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J. for head coach Rich Hansen
• The fourth top-five prospect from New Jersey to sign with Ohio State in a two-year period (Tyler Friday, Ronnie Hickman and Luke Wypler are the others)
• Made nine tackles and had a 70-yard punt return for touchdown in St. Peter’s 21-14 win over Don Bosco Prep in the Non-Public Group IV state championship game
• During his junior season in 2018, had 89 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks
• Also had an interception – which he returned for a touchdown – to go along with four passes defended, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries
• Earned linebacker MVP honors at the Opening New Jersey Regional
• Is the son of Amy Ellis

COURTESY OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS