Simmons, Patterson named Applebee's Student-Athletes of the Month

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University quarterback Tre Simmons and goalkeeper Grayson Patterson have been named the Applebee's Student-Athletes of the Month for October.

Simmons passed for 860 yards and eight touchdowns in leading the TU football team to a perfect 4-0 record in the month of October. He went 63-of-111 and averaged 215 passing yards per game. He rushed for 131 yards on 34 carries (3.9 ypc) with a touchdown and hauled in a 20-yard TD reception.

The Tampa, Florida sophomore passed for a season-best 307 yards in Tusculum's 35-9 homecoming win over Emory & Henry. He went 15-of-27 with three touchdowns. He accounted for four touchdowns in a 49-14 victory over Erskine. He completed 20 of his 29 passes while also rushing for 40 yards and posted a TD catch. He passed for 150 yards and two touchdowns in TU's 34-6 win over rival Carson-Newman. Against the Eagles, he also rushed for 89 yards including a 71-yard touchdown run.

Simmons has passed for 1,933 yards this season, which is tops in the South Atlantic Conference and 33^rd in the country. His 214.8 passing yards per game average leads the SAC and is 41^st in NCAA Division II. He also leads the league in touchdown passes (17 – 24^th in NCAA II), completions per game (16.44 cpg – 45^th in NCAA II), points responsible for per game (13.3 ppg – 40^th in NCAA II) and total offense (245.6 ypg – 37^th in NCAA II).

The Pioneers are 8-1 overall for the first time in program history and have won their last six games. TU is ranked sixth in the NCAA II Super Region 2 Poll and the Pioneers' victory total (8) are tied for the third-most in a season.

Patterson compiled a 4-1-4 record with five shutouts and a 0.91 goals against average during October, helping the Pioneers secure a South Atlantic Conference postseason berth. Patterson allowed a total of four goals in eight regular-season matches during the month, and made 40 saves for an .833 save percentage.

The Maryville, Tennessee native had three shutouts in six conference matches during the month, including a 1-0 victory over Newberry on Oct. 15 and a 0-0 draw at Limestone on Oct. 8 in which she made a career-high 11 saves. Patterson had a streak of 325 minutes, 7 seconds without allowing a goal that spanned five matches and include consecutive shutouts against Newberry (1-0), Asbury (2-0 on Oct. 19) and Wingate (0-0 on Oct. 22).

Patterson finished the regular season with a 0.95 goals against average and is currently ranked seventh in the SAC in goals against average (1.12), fourth in saves (75), fifth in save percentage (.789) and fourth in shutouts (seven). Tusculum's 9-4-5 overall record this season was the best for the program since 2012.

The Tusculum Student-Athlete of the Month Award is sponsored by Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar of Greeneville.  The Applebee's Student-Athlete of the Month Award honors one male and one female student-athlete each month from an in-season sport during the 2022-23 academic year, recognizing their hard work, effort and performance.

2022-23 Applebee's Student-Athletes of the Month