| Ko Simpson | |
| Number: | 30 |
| Position: | Safety |
| Birth Date: | 9 November 1983 |
| Birth Place: | Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 1 |
| Weight Lbs: | 202 |
| Highlights: |
|
| High School: | Rock Hill |
| College: | South Carolina |
| Draftyear: | 2006 |
| Draftround: | 4 |
| Draftpick: | 105 |
| Pastteams: |
|
| Statlabel1: | Total tackles |
| Statvalue1: | 174 |
| Statlabel2: | Sacks |
| Statvalue2: | 1.0 |
| Statlabel3: | Forced fumbles |
| Statvalue3: | 1 |
| Statlabel4: | Fumble recoveries |
| Statvalue4: | 1 |
| Statlabel5: | Interceptions |
| Statvalue5: | 3 |
| Pfr: | S/SimpKo20 |
Yukota "Ko" Simpson (born November 9, 1983) is a former American football safety. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He played college football at South Carolina.
He also played for the Detroit Lions.
Simpson was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina and attended Castle Heights Middle School and Rock Hill High School where he helped lead the team to a Class AAAA State Championship playing on both offense and defense. He signed a letter of intent with South Carolina in 2003, but did not enroll until spring of 2004 under then head coach Lou Holtz.[1]
Simpson attended and played college football at South Carolina.[2] In his freshman season, Simpson recorded 50 solo tackles, 11 assists and six interceptions. Against Georgia, in only his second collegiate game, he intercepted a David Greene pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Gamecocks' win over Arkansas which included a fumble recovery returned 57 yards for a touchdown. His six interceptions led the Southeastern Conference and he was named Freshman of the Year in the SEC by the Associated Press,[3] becoming the first South Carolina player to ever win the award.
As a sophomore, Simpson had 103 total tackles, two fumble returns and an interception. He was consensus All-SEC and named a Football Writers Association All-American.[4]
Simpson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft with the 105th overall pick.[5] On September 11, 2007, Simpson was placed on injured reserve.[6]
Simpson was traded to the Detroit Lions for a seventh round pick on September 4, 2009.[7] On November 25, Simpson was placed on injured reserve with a torn patella with a separated MCL.
He was released by the Lions on September 4, 2010.[8] [9]
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | GS | Comb | Total | Ast | Sack | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | |||
| 16 | 15 | 76 | 50 | 26 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 76 | 38 | 76 | 0 | 4 | |||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 16 | 11 | 66 | 51 | 15 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 8 | 5 | 30 | 26 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4 | |||
| Career | 41 | 32 | 173 | 128 | 45 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 27 | 76 | 0 | 10 | ||
On January 1, 2009, Simpson was arrested by a Rock Hill, South Carolina police officer for hindering police while they were attempting to break up an unruly crowd. According to the police report, Simpson verbally abused officers.[10]