Sept. 1, 2007

Seattle, Wash. -

By Jim Carberry, Special to The Seattle Times

Can Shane Simmons turn every kid's dream into a possibility?

The Western Washington University middle linebacker grew up with the same fantasy as almost every youngster who has thrown a pass, shot a jumper or swung a bat: to play professional sports.

"In football season I'd want to be a Seahawk," Simmons said. "In basketball I'd want to be on the Sonics, and in baseball I'd want to be a Mariner."

The odds are long, but -- as the NCAA Division II Vikings open the season today in Bellingham at UC Davis -- not impossible.

"I don't like to bring it up too much, but I can sense it," he says of the chance to play pro football. "I want to play in the NFL. I'm preparing for it. It's become a realistic goal."

Only one Western Washington player ever has been drafted, and only two have played in the NFL.

"They have to be exceptional at this level," said Robin Ross, who has coached nearly a half-dozen college players who went on to the NFL. Ross was a 10th-round draft pick by the 49ers and played in one exhibition for the Seahawks.

For five games last season, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Simmons was exceptional. He led NCAA Division II in solo tackles (9.8 per game) and the North Central Conference in total tackles (11.2 per game) before an injury ended his season.

Most impressive was Simmons' 40-yard time in front of NFL scouts: 4.57 seconds.

"Four or five scouts already told me they'd be back," said Ross, WWU's second-year coach.

Simmons took a long route to Bellingham from Kentlake High School, where he suffered a broken ankle his junior year. As a senior, he was SPSL North Offensive Player of the Year as a quarterback, and a standout defender listed as one of the top 100 high-school seniors in the state by The Seattle Times.

But when Pac-10 schools didn't offer him a scholarship, he ended up at Idaho. He says it wasn't a good fit. Simmons played three games in 2004 before quitting the team and leaving school after the tragic death of a close friend and teammate.

He landed at Western two years ago, starting all but one game as a sophomore. He was the Vikings' defensive player of the year and first-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Another injury ended his junior year early. It started well, but Simmons began feeling pain in his shoulder and neck, then his shoulder went numb after a hit in Game 5.

"The next day I couldn't lift up my arm to eat a bowl of cereal," Simmons said.

Season over.

As he did four years before, Simmons used support from family, teammates and coaches to bounce back from an injury.

"They were there for me," Simmons said. "They kept pushing me."

He only played half his junior season and still earned second-team NCC all-star honors. The national media, like the NFL scouts, have taken notice. He was a second-team preseason All-American for D2Football.com and ranked among its top 15 pro hopefuls.

Which means the NFL dream is still alive.

"The dream stopped awhile," Simmons said. "It came alive when coach Ross came here. He knew about the NFL. He would say little things to me about pro ball and tell me it's realistic.

"But it's going to take a healthy year. I have 10 guaranteed games, and hopefully some playoff games."

Ross isn't worried about his star linebacker: "Shane loves football and will do anything you ask him to do. If he makes the NFL, I'll be happy for him because he will realize his goal. But if he doesn't make the NFL, he'll get his degree."

As for his legacy at Western, the recreation major is concerned with only one thing.

"I hope people remember me as having an impact on the team in a positive way, as someone with good character, who would help my teammates," he said.

But, he added, "It would also be nice if they remembered me as a Seahawk."