Former NFL QB Chris Simms Loves Zach Wilson’s Game, Despite Not Knowing His Name

PROVO, Utah – Add former Texas and eight-year NFL QB Chris Simms to a growing list of people intrigued by BYU star Zach Wilson. The only issue is that Simms still needs to learn Wilson’s name.

Simms, a current NFL analyst for NBC Sports, was on NBC Sports Washington’s ‘Washington Football Talk’ podcast discussing NFL Draft prospects the Washington Football Team should consider in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Trevor Lawrence was, of course, brought up as the elite prospect, but the host then asked Simms, what about the next tier with (Justin) Fields, (Trey) Lance, and (Zach) Wilson? That’s’ when we learn how impressed Simms is with the man he calls “BYU guy.”

.@CSimmsQB is all in on "BYU guy" (aka Zach Wilson 😂) and his excitement is contagious! Should WFT target Wilson in the draft?

Listen to his interview on 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 with @JPFinlayNBCS @PeteHaileyNBCS & @Mitch_Tischler:https://t.co/Zcr0jQXaUp pic.twitter.com/BA49HmfN0p

— NBCSports Washington (@NBCSWashington) November 14, 2020

“Let me just say, the BYU guy has caught my eye. He is a phenomenal thrower of the football. I don’t even know his name. I just know him as BYU guy… But I caught the BYU guy last week (against Boise State), a little bit on TV, the talent’s real. From everything I saw on TV, it looks like he’s a first round conversation, no doubt about it.”

Earlier this season, a Washington Football Team legend in Joe Theismann gave Zach Wilson high praise on social media and radio stations in the D.C. area. Chris Simms said, “Well, I’d listen to Joe. Joe knows real talent when he sees it.”

Wilson is one of the biggest risers in the NFL Draft conversation due to his play this season. He’s led BYU to its first 8-0 start since 2001, and he’s in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race with 2,512 passing yards to go with an eye-popping 22 touchdown passes to only two interceptions.

Simms’ father, Super Bowl Champion and CBS analyst Phil Simms, is also asking questions about “BYU guy.”

“The big guy, ‘the Big Effort’ as I call him, my father. I know he’s brought him up a few times to me too. ‘Christopher, have you seen this kid from BYU?’ That’s how he talks to me. ‘Have you seen him? Whoa, Christopher, he caught my eye. He can really throw it.’ So I’m excited to dive into this kid at some point and really study him.”

Wilson and BYU have two more games remaining on their regular-season schedule. They will be in action on Nov. 21 when they host North Alabama at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.