DAYTONA BEACH - Oakleaf High standout quarterback Walter Simmons III, who led the Knights’ offense as a dual threat athlete, has transferred from East Carolina University to Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach, according to press accounts from HBCUSports.com, a sports information site for the Historical Black College and Universities.

Simmons, whose father, Walter Simmons, Jr., was a defensive tackle at Bethune Cookman, will join the offense at Bethune Cookman where he joins a former University of Florida quarterback Jalen Jones to give the Wildcats two signal callers with unlimited firepower.

Simmons did not play for East Carolina in 2021 as a freshman quarterback behind junior Holton Ahlers, a three-year starter for the Pirates, and two other freshman, Ryan Stubblefield and Mason Garcia.

Originally a University of Florida signee, Jones, attended just one semester in Gainesville before transferring to Jackson State under coach Deion Sanders. From Jackson State, after playing 11 games as a freshman, Jones transferred to Mississippie Delta Community College.

Simmons led the Oakleaf offense with nearly 6,000 yards passing and 50 scores while also rushing for more than 800 yards with 18 scores. As a senior, Simmons led Oakleaf, under coach Frank Garis, who recently left Oakleaf, to a 7-4 record with a region playoff run and a 7-3 record in his junior season. At East Carolina, Simmons sat on a roster behind a slew of incoming quarterbacks as well as Ahlers, but did earn some scout team honors for the Pirates.

Bethune Cookman, under coach Terry Sims, finished at 2-9 last year with a 24.77 points per game average against a 36.27 points per game for their opponents. The Eagles, winless until game nine last year, were led by two senior quarterbacks; Shannon Patrick and Devin Black, who both threw for nine touchdowns, but also had 14 interceptions; 10 for Patrick, four for Black. The Eagles’ top receiver was senior tight end Kemari Averett who finished with 52 catches and 10 scores. Senior wide out Darryl Powell, Jr., was second best receiver with 22 catches and two scores.