North Carolina Central University Athletics

    Thirteen seasons after ending his football career at North Carolina Central University, Joe Simmons still holds five of the school’s seven rushing records.
    From 1990 to 1993, Simmons ran for 2,840 career ground yards to become the Eagles’ all-time leading rusher. During that time he averaged 5.46 yards per carry and rushed for 28 touchdowns, while catching 43 passes for 469 yards and four scores.
    His biggest campaign came as a senior in 1993, when the Mount Airy, N.C. native amassed an amazing 1,699 rushing yards (6.82 yards per carry), along with 16 rushing touchdowns and nine games of more than 100 ground yards - all NCCU single-season records. His 102 points in 1993 is also still the school’s single-season scoring standard.
    To put his senior year into perspective, no other Eagle has ever rushed for more than 1,200 yards in one season. He is also the only Eagle to ever rush for more than 250 yards in a game. In fact, he achieved the feat twice, and in back-to-back contests. He rushed for a school-record 259 yards on 31 carries against Kentucky State on November 6, 1993, then gained 255 yards on 33 attempts at Virginia Union on November 13, 1993.
    To cap his record-breaking career, Simmons was voted First-Team All-CIAA and Second-Team All-America following his senior season in 1993.

(bio from program at time of induction)