Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire is banking on Malcolm Simmons to emerge as a key playmaker for the Red Raiders. After snagging the former Auburn wide receiver from the NCAA transfer portal, the Tech staff is eager to see Simmons challenge Big 12 defenses.
But Simmons might make an impact beyond the gridiron.
“He can fly,” McGuire remarked at a recent Red Raider Club event in Amarillo. There’s a possibility Simmons might also lend his talents to Tech's track team under coach Wes Kittley during the outdoor season, if everything aligns.
Standing at 6-foot and weighing 180 pounds, Simmons made waves at Auburn, catching 40 passes for 451 yards and 3 touchdowns as a freshman in 2024, followed by 25 receptions for 457 yards and 3 TDs in 2025. As Texas Tech progresses through spring practice, Simmons is being eyed as an outside receiver, potentially stepping into the shoes of Caleb Douglas or Reggie Virgil.
Simmons’ athletic prowess is well-documented from his high school days at Benjamin Russell High in Alabama, where he was a three-time state champion in the long jump and a two-time state champion in the high jump.
Kittley mentioned that McGuire floated the idea of Simmons participating in track and field during a casual lunch at Tech's Cash Family Sports Nutrition Center. While the conversation hasn’t progressed further, Kittley is open to the possibility.
“It’s actually an easier call probably indoors than outdoors,” Kittley noted, highlighting the overlap with spring football. “But I’d love to see him out there. I told Joey, ‘We can definitely discuss it after spring ball.’”
Simmons’ high school track achievements are impressive, with personal bests of 7 feet in the high jump and a long jump of 24-11 1/2, an Alabama High School Athletic Association record. His performances would have placed him competitively at last year’s Big 12 outdoor championships.
However, time is of the essence. After the Tech football spring game on April 17, the track team only has two regular-season meets before the Big 12 outdoor championships in May. Simmons would need to quickly prove himself to secure a spot on the roster, which is limited to 32 athletes from a pool of over 40 men.
Tech has a history of dual-sport athletes, with linebacker Mike Dingle competing in the 60-meter hurdles at the Big 12 indoor championships, and former players like Ivory McCann and Carlos Francis also showcasing their talents on the track. Simmons could be the next to make his mark in both arenas.