​Utah receiver Larry Simmons runs with the ball during the first practice of fall at the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Facility in Salt Lake City, on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026.
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Davis Kuhn, Utah Athletics
Seemingly every time Larry Simmons caught the ball last year, he made sure to get in the end zone.Well, maybe not every time, but out of 15 receptions in the 2025 season, six went for 6 points.Simmons, who transferred from Southern Miss, had to patiently wait for his time to shine last season. Through the first six games of Utah’s season, Simmons had just three receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown, but he never stopped working in practice.“Continue to just give it my all each and every day, letting the coaches know that they can count on me in any situation. Anytime they need me, I can be there to help us, help the team.” Utah receiver Larry SimmonsEventually, Simmons began to see the field more, scoring a touchdown in each of Utah’s games vs. BYU and Colorado. It was in the Utes’ 51-47 comeback victory against Kansas State that Simmons shined the brightest. He made two of the most important catches of the game, the first coming with Dampier and the Utes facing third and 22 with 3:40 left, down 10.Dampier pump-faked, then saw Simmons streak open across the field and fired it to him for a 21-yard gain. Running back Wayshawn Parker converted on fourth and 1 to keep the drive alive.On the next play, Simmons got open in the corner of the end zone and Dampier placed the ball where only he could get it. Simmons hauled in the back-shoulder grab to bring Utah within 3 points. The Utes would win the game with another touchdown drive to complete a dramatic comeback.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) celebrates with wide receiver Larry Simmons after scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 56 seconds left in the fourth quarter against Kansas State held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
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Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
In the season finale at Kansas, Simmons was once again key, hauling in three receptions for 97 yards and two scores, including a 48-yard touchdown reception to put the game out of reach.While he had just one catch in the bowl game against Nebraska, Simmons’ end-of-season run proved that he b