A former standout at Mallard Creek High School in North Carolina, Ravens second-year linebacker Trenton Simpson finished as the No. 12 overall player and No. 1 outside linebacker in the Class of 2020, according to 247Sports.
Despite the glitz and glamour that comes with a high-stakes college recruitment, Simpson and his family always understood the importance of education. After enrolling early at Clemson in January 2020, Simpson earned a degree in sports communication in December 2022. He was a three-time ACC Honor Roll selection as well.
“I always had to put school first because getting scholarships, holding a great GPA and having the correct grades gets you in a lot more doors than just being a talented athlete,” Simpson said on Glenn Clark Radio Aug. 8. “School was a high priority for me and my family.”
That’s why the 23-year-old is hosting a “Back to School Blitz” on Saturday, Aug. 10, at Weis Markets in Havre de Grace, presented by Great 8’s Memorabilia. Between noon and 2 p.m., fans can chat with Simpson, get an autograph and take a photo with the man himself all while gifting new backpacks to youngsters across the Baltimore area.
There are only 100 available VIP tickets, so visit Great8sBaltimore.com and make a $25 donation to guarantee a spot. Others can show up and donate a $25 Weis gift card or a brand new backpack.
“It means the world to me to give back to my community,” Simpson said. “I understand the impact that I have as a Baltimore Raven and how I can inspire a young kid and a family to know that their dreams are possible and to be able to have one-on-one conversations with them and be able to motivate them to get ready to go to school and have a great year this year.”
Simpson discussed various other topics on GCR ahead of the Ravens’ 2024 campaign. Among them was his decision to change numbers from 30 to 23.
Simpson wore 22 in high school and college. He saw 23 was available for this season, and he chose to wear it because of his mother, Dionna, who wore the number as a basketball and volleyball player growing up.
When Simpson goes back to his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., people often tell him how much of a “beast” his mother was as an athlete growing up. His father, Timothy, was also a star football player in high school.
“When I told her I was doing it for her, she was so happy for me,” Simpson said of his mom. “Her family, they claim I get a lot of my talent from my mother.”
Simpson was a two-way player in high school, playing linebacker and running back. In 2019, he bruised his way to 371 yards and six touchdowns on 44 carries. Simpson averaged 8.2 yards per carry for his career as a runner.
Now, getting to line up against All-Pro running back Derrick Henry in practice is a full-circle moment for Simpson. The 6-foot-2, 238-pound linebacker modeled his running style after Henry as a high schooler.
“[I was a] big body, just outrunning people, stiff-arming,” Simpson said. “… It’s crazy to be teammates with him, but it’s awesome to be able to talk to him now in the locker room and for us to share the same team.”
In addition to the general coolness of being Henry’s teammate, Simpson believes he can learn a great deal going up against the four-time Pro Bowler as a run defender and tackler. He’s already experienced the collisions that come with the 247-pounder rumbling between the tackles.
“Going against inside run against him and practicing against him in practice is going to make me better,” Simpson said. “There’s no other running back in the NFL that’s running that hard and is that size. So I can definitely say I’ve been learning and it’s just making me better. When it’s time to go out there and we play against any other [teams’] 31 backs I’m going to be ready to tackle, for sure.”
For more from Simpson, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox