(1999--Sophomore)

(1998—Freshman)

(2000-Junior) Ken served as one of OSU’s captains during the 2000 season…Ken entered his junior season as the premier tailback in the Pac-10 Conference, having already established conference records for the most yards rushing in a season by a freshman and by a sophomore...at the conclusion of the 2000 season, ...injured ribs prevented him from starting at Washington State (10/30/99)...Ken also established several OSU season records in 1999 as a sophomore...he set records for most yards rushing 1,486; most points scored, 118; and most season all-purpose yards, 1,705...Ken rushed for over 100 yards in each of his first two starts in 1998 and he surpassed that effort in 1999 by rushing for over 100 yards in the first six games played and nine all total...Ken’s 1,028 yards rushing in 1998 ranked him sixth on OSU’s single-season list at the time, when he became the Beavers’ first-ever freshman to rush for over 1,000 yards, and only the second freshman in Pac-10 history to do so...his 1,028 yards rushing as a freshman is the most ever by a freshman in Pac-10 history...his 78 points in 1998 ranked sixth in OSU’s single-season list at the time and his 1,172 all-purpose yards in 1998 ranked 11th on the Beavers’ single-season list at the time...he became the first freshman in 1998 to ever rush for over 100 yards in his first game for OSU and also the first freshman to rush for over 100 yards in back-to-back games to open a season....Ken was selected first team All-American by The Football News after his freshman year and second-team All-Pacific-10 after his sophomore year...he was also selected first team All-Pacific-10 Conference by the Football News and honorable mention All-American by the Football News...he was selected first team All-Pacific-10 by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer...he was selected the MVP for Oregon State in the Oahu Bowl Game vs. Hawaii and he was selected the Pac-10 offensive Player of the Week following the Fresno State (9/11/99) game...he became the most prolific running back as a sophomore in Pac-10 history with 1,486 yards in 1999, one year after becoming the most prolific running back as a freshman in Pac-10 history with 1,028 yards...Ken had another outstanding spring in 2000 and was very impressive...Ken’s work load was held down during the 2000 spring drills...he carried the ball 9 times for a team-high 75 yards in the first scrimmage...he carried the ball 12 times for 51 yards and a touchdown in scrimmage No. 2...he had 51 yards on 16 carries in the third scrimmage, plus he caught 3 passes for 41 yards and a touchdown...in the Spring Game, Ken played for the Black squad (White team won 26-10) and led the Black squad in rushing with 61 yards on 14 carries...Ken posted weightlifting bests of 425 in the back squat, 285 in the bench press and 253 in the power clean during winter conditioning…he accomplished the following during the 2000 season…(Eastern Washington)---Ken got his junior season off to a fantastic start, rushing for 200 yards on a career high 40 carries against Eastern Washington…he scored all three Beaver touchdowns, increasing his career scoring record to 214…his 200-yard rushing game was the eighth best single-game mark in OSU history and his second highest career game…he had a long un of 24 yards. (New Mexico)--Ken had a fantastic game at New Mexico, rushing for 184 yards and scoring two touchdowns, including a 43-yarder with 1:12 left on a fourth and one play to ice the contest at 28-20 for OSU…his 184 yards matches the 10th best single-game mark in OSU history…the game was his 14th multiple touchdown game of his career and 15th 100-yard plus rushing game. (San Diego State)--Ken rushed for 91 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns against San Diego State and did not play after the first series of the second half as OSU had a comfortable lead. (USC)--Ken had the biggest game of his career to date against USC…he rushed for 234 yards and three touchdowns vs. the Trojans, including the game-clinching 36-yard run with 1:18 to play…the 234 yards is the second highest rushing total by an individual in OSU history, topped only by 299 by Bill Enyart…it was also the second most yards ever rushed by an individual against USC…only Curtis Enis of Penn State in 1996 with 241 ever rushed for more yards against USC…Ken also tied Tim Alexander for the eighth best OSU all-purpose running game with 234 yards. (Washington)--Ken rushed for 104 yards on 23 carries against Washington…it was his 17th 100-yard rushing game at OSU. (Stanford)--Ken rushed for 81 yards on 14 carries and did not play past the midway point of the third quarter in OSU’s 38-6 victory over Stanford…he had a long run of 24 yards. (UCLA)--Ken rushed for 100 yards on 24 carries vs. UCLA, the 18th time he has topped the century mark in a game…he had a long run of 20 yards. (WSU)--Ken rushed for 169 yards, which ranks 19th on OSU single-season list against WSU, scoring two touchdowns and a 2-point PAT…he had runs of 53 and 42 yards vs. the Cougars…he had 181 all-purpose yards…with 1,163 yards rushing this season, he ranks third on OSU’s single-season list…his 80 points scored ties him for fourth place on the single-season scoring list. (Cal)--Ken rushed for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns vs. California…it was the fifth time he has scored 3 or more touchdowns in a game…he had a career long 64-yard run vs. California. (Arizona)--Ken rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown vs. Arizona and scored a touchdown on a 21-yard run and had a 25-yard run…he caught 2 passes for 6 yards, giving him 79 all-purpose yards on 21 plays. (Oregon)--Ken rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown vs. Oregon on a 20-yard run…he also had a 25 yard run…(Notre Dame)—Ken rushed for 85 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl…

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT SIMONTON---(The following comments were made about Simonton during the 2000 season.)

“Ken Simonton is a definite Heisman Trophy candidate.” Eastern Washington coach Paul Wulff

“He is just an outstanding back. We were stacking guys at the line of scrimmage, and every once in a while, the Beavers had a good running back (Simonton) that makes a guy miss, and that ends up being big gains.” New Mexico coach Rocky Long.

“He’s obviously a great running back. Our scheme should stop anybody; at least it has the potential to do it. But if we have a letdown, he could get 300 yards against us (Simonton rushed for 184).” New Mexico linebacker Mike Barnett.

“You are not going to completely stop a back like him.” New Mexico coach Rocky Long.

“He’s always going to the goal line. He’s always going downhill, always seeking the soft spot.” San Diego State coach Ted Tollner.

“He is one of the best that we will play against.” USC coach Paul Hackett.

“He’s the guts of this football team. The things he does are unbelievable for his size. He doesn’t have all out burning speed, but you couldn’t tell him that on the final play against USC.” OSU running backs coach Dan Cozzetto.

“He’s such a tremendous person, one of the best and most true persons I’ve been around.” OSU running backs coach Dan Cozzetto.

“There are certainly a lot of good ones (running backs) out there, but right now, all his numbers would lead you to believe that there is not a better one around.” Washington coach Rick Neuheisel. “He’s just got tremendous vision. He’s got great explosion. When he sees a hole or opening, he has tremendous explosion. He’s got great lower-body strength. He breaks a lot of tackles with his legs. He’s an extremely tough guy.” Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson.

“He possesses that gift of knowing how to get into the end zone. He hasn’t gained all his yards by being average.” OSU running backs coach Dan Cozzetto.

“He makes the right decisions on where to go. He seldom runs into anybody. He has good speed, but it’s his ability to make the right decision that he really has going for him.” Washington defensive coordinator Tim Hundley.

“He is the most underrated player in college football.” Tom Ramsey, Fox Sports Net announcer

“I would say that Ken Simonton is the top offensive player in the Pac-10 right now.” California coach Tom Holmoe.

“Ken Simonton is the best running back in the Pac-10, and one of the best in the nation.” UCLA coach Bob Toledo.

“I think he’s a tremendous player. I thought he was before. He just showed his speed on that first run he made. We didn’t have a pursuit angle, and he outran just about everybody on the field.” WSU coach Mike Price.

“I just hope he never runs out of eligibility—maybe go another couple, three years. What can I say” he must amazes you every time he goes out and plays. He’s a great back, he’s one of the best in football right now.” Dennis Erickson.

“Ken Simonton is the best offensive player in the Pac-10, without a doubt.” California coach Tom Holmoe.

“Simonton…man…is he explosive. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Andre Carter, California All-American defensive end.

(1999-Sophomore)- As a sophomore in 1999, Ken broke the OSU record for career scoring (196 points)...he needed 39 rushing yards to become the Beavers’ career rushing leader, passing Dave Schilling, who had 2,552 yards...Ken became OSU’s single-season rushing record holder with 1,486 yards...he became OSU’s season scoring record holder with 118 points...he became OSU’s single-season all-purpose running record holder with 1,705 yards...at the end of the season he ranked fifth in career all-purpose running and needed 1,027 yards to become the career leader...Ken finished second in the Pac-10 in rushing, first in scoring and fourth in all-purpose yards....he ranked 13th in the NCAA in rushing during the regular season with 120.8 yards per game...he ranked eighth nationally in scoring with 9.64 average...ranked 26th nationally in all-purpose running with 138.45 yards per game average...he had a streak of scoring a touchdown in seven straight games stopped at Stanford...he scored 24 touchdowns in his first 14 games...he had his streak of consecutive 100-yard rushing games halted vs. UCLA after suffering a first quarter rib injury...(Season Notes)--Ken set an OSU single-season scoring record with 118 points, single-season rushing record with 1,486 yards and all-purpose running mark with 1,705 yards...he was named second team All-Pac-10; first team All-Pac-10 by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; first team All-Pac-10 by the Football News; honorable mention All-American by the Football News and he was selected OSU’s MVP of the Oahu Bowl vs. Hawaii. (Nevada)--Ken rushed for 199 yards, scored three touchdowns and had 216 yards in all-purpose yardage...his 199 yards rushing was the second highest of his career at the time, topped only by 207 vs. Stanford in 1998...his 216 all-purpose yards was a personal best, topping his previous high of 207 yards vs. Stanford in 1998...his 199 yards rushing was the seventh best single-season rushing mark in OSU history at the time...his 216 yards in all-purpose yards in the 13th best single-game mark in Beaver history...his 35 carries vs. Nevada matched his career high of 35 vs. Stanford last year...had long run of 36 yards. (Fresno State)--Ken rushed for 178 yards on 31 carries against the Bulldogs, his third straight game over 100 yards...had 200 all-purpose yards...the 178 yards rushing is the 11th best single-game effort in OSU history...he was named Pac-10 Conference offensive Player of the Week following the Fresno State game...scored nine touchdowns in a three-game stretch (Fresno State, Nevada and Oregon from 1998)...rushed for 534 yards and 9 touchdowns in those three games, an average of 178 yards per game...had long run of 31 yards. (Georgia Southern)--Ken rushed for 180 yards on 32 carries and scored 4 touchdowns...the 180 yards rushing is the 11th best single-game mark in OSU history at the time and the 4 touchdowns tied his own school record for TDs in a game...had 183 all-purpose yards...long run of 29 yards. (USC)--Ken established a Beaver record by rushing for over 100 yards in five straight games...rushed for 127 yards and 1 touchdown vs. USC and caught 2 passes for 10 yards, giving him 137 all-purpose yards on 31 plays. (Washington)--Ken rushed for 106 yards, his sixth straight 100-yard game, scored 2 touchdowns and caught 2 passes for 1 yard, giving him 107 all-purpose yards. (Stanford)--Ken rushed for 115 yards on 32 carries against Stanford, an average of 3.6 yards per carry...he also caught 3 passes for 13 yards, giving him 128 all-purpose yards...his long run was 17 yards. (UCLA)--It took an injury to do what no other team had been able to do in 1999, stop Ken from rushing for 100 yards in a game...he rushed for 37 yards on 8 first quarter carries and added 39 yards on 2 pass receptions. (WSU)--Ken entered the game for the first time midway through the third quarter and rallied the Beavers to a convincing 27-13 victory over the Cougars...he carried the ball 9 times for 41 yards and caught a pass for 23 yards...he scored two touchdowns. (California)--Ken carried the ball 31 times for 134 yards vs. California, including a long run of 37 yards...he caught a pass for 30 yards, giving him 164 all-purpose yards on 32 plays...he scored on a 2-point PAT. (Arizona)--Ken rushed for 149 yards on 21 carries, an average of 7.1 yards...had runs of 46, 37 and 27 yards...his runs of 46 and 37 yards set up short touchdowns. (Oregon)--Ken was held to 63 yards rushing and to 99 all-purpose yards...it was the first time this season he was held below 100 yards rushing when he was not injured...he scored all 14 points vs. Oregon to become the Beavers’ single-season scoring leader with 106 points. (Hawaii)--Ken rushed for 157 yards, matching the 25th best individual game mark in OSU history at the time...scored 2 touchdowns and had 182 all-purpose yards...had runs of 30 and 43 yards...(Career Notes following 1999 season)--Ken was selected first team All-American by The Football News after his freshman year and second-team All-Pacific-10 after his sophomore year...he became the most prolific running back as a sophomore in Pac-10 history with 1,486 yards...Ken had a sensational spring practice in 1999...before spring drills, Ken gave baseball a shot and had one plate appearance with the OSU baseball team, striking out...after two years away from the game of baseball, Ken felt he was better served by returning to football...in OSU’s three major scrimmages, Ken gained 48 yards on 10 carries at Roseburg on April 17...followed with 50 yards on 13 carries and he caught 1 pass for 7 yards at the Prothro Field scrimmage on April 24...in the final spring game at Hillsboro on May 1, Ken was superb...rushed for 93 yards on 21 carries and caught 2 passes for 35 yards, including a 30-yarder from Jonathan Smith for the White squad...in the weight room, Ken produced personal bests of 195 pounds in the hang clean, 250 in the bench press, 375 in the back squat and 220 in the incline...his best vertical jump was 31.00 inches and he tested for only 6.26 percent body fat.

(1998-Redshirt Freshman)--Ken was given the clearance to go full speed ahead with the winter conditioning program as his shoulder had regained the needed strength to play football...he spent the 1997 season as a redshirt after recovering from shoulder (left) surgery from being injured in high school…he entered spring drills as somewhat of an unknown quantity to OSU fans, but not to Coach Mike Riley, who had seen him play for three years in high school...in fact, Riley felt Simonton, if heaalthy, would have played and contended for a starting spot as a freshman in 1997...Ken made a big impact during spring drills and established himself as a solid tailback...he had his best performance of the spring in the final spring game when he rushed for 90 yards on 13 carries...had 34 yards on 9 carries in the first scrimmage and 15 yards on 12 carries in the second scrimmage...reported to fall camp as OSU’s No. 2 tailback...had a fantastic fall camp and moved into the No. 1 tailback position...Jason Dandridge, who was listed ahead of Ken on the depth chart entering the season, was suspended for the first game (against Nevada) for disciplinary reasons…as happens so many times in athletics, given the opportunity, Ken took it and ran with it and never gave up his starting position and had a record breaking year...Ken’s brilliant play in 1998 was rewarded by being named to the Football News’ first team Freshman All-America team...Ken saved the his best for last in the 1998 season...Ken rushed for 157 yards against Oregon (11/21) to go over the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the season, becoming only the fourth player in OSU history to do so and marking only the fifth time in Beaver history a back has rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season... Bill Enyart, Pete Pifer (twice) and Dave Schilling are the only other Beaver backs in history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season...Schilling was the last to do so in 1970....Ken’s 157 yards matched the 22nd best single-game rushing mark in OSU history at the time, plus he rushed for four touchdowns, which equaled the OSU and Reser Stadium record for touchdowns scored in one game...Ken was named the Pacific-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week following the Oregon game...it was the fourth time in the 1998 season that Ken topped the 100-yard mark in a game...Ken rushed for 43 yards on 15 carries against UCLA (11/7)...Ken rushed for 94 yards vs. California (10/31) and had 110 yards in all-purpose running... Ken rushed for 57 yards at Washington (10/24) on 17 carries and had 98 all-purpose yards...(Arizona 10/17) Ken was held to his second lowest running total of the season, rushing for 36 yards on 16 carries...Ken had the best day of his young OSU career at Stanford (10/10)...rushed for a then career high 207 yards on 35 carries, including two touchdowns…he had runs of 49 and 27 yards...his 27-yard run in the fourth quarter gave the Beavers a first down that iced the contest for OSU...Stanford had called its last time out with 2:02 remaining in the game prior to Ken’s run on second and 11...his 207 yards rushing was the fifth best single-game effort in OSU history at the time and he became only the sixth back in Beaver history to rush for over 200 yards, and only the third OSU player to rush for over 200 yards vs. a Pac-10 opponent...his 207 all-purpose yards wass the 13th best single-game mark in OSU history at the time...Ken missed his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season as he came up one yard short with 99 at Utah State (10/3)...Ken was held to 78 yards rushing at USC (9/19) to stop his streak of two-straight 100-yard plus rushing games...Ken was held to a season low 33 yards rushing at Arizona State (9/26)...Ken, a redshirt freshman, rushed for over 100 yards in each of his first two starts, 121 vs. Nevada (9/5) and 103 against Baylor (9/12). (Season notes) Ken scored two touchdown in each of his first two starts, and two against Stanford and Washington, plus one vs. UCLA and four vs. Oregon to give him 78 points on the season, which ranked second on the team behind Jose Cortez (80)...Ken’s 78 points ranked him fourth on OSU’s all-time single season scoring list, and eighth among Pac-10 scoring leaders...his 1,172 all-purpose yards was the 10th best single-season total in OSU history and his 106.6 all-purpose yards per game ranked 11th in the Pac-10...Ken became the first freshman to ever rush for over 100 yards in his first game at OSU and the first freshman to have back-to-back 100-yard rushing games...Ken finished fourth in the Pac-10 in rushing with an average of 93.5 yards per game, trailing Arizona’s Trung Canidate (110.9), USC’s Chad Morton (96.7), and WSU’s Kevin Brown (95.1)...Ken ranked 10th in the Pac-10 in all-purpose running with 106.5 yards per game...Ken was fourth in scoring in the Pac-10 with touchdowns only with 78 points and 7.1 average per game...Ken ranked 15th in the Pac-10 in total offense with 93.45 yards per game...Ken ranked 41st in the nation in rushing...named co-winner of OSU’s Rookie of the Year award with Jonathan Smith for 1998.

(1997-Freshman)--Ken spent the 1997 season as a redshirt after recovering from shoulder (left) surgery from being injured in high school...his shoulder was never strong enough during the season to allow contact.

PITTSBURG HIGH SCHOOL-- (1993-96)--Ken won many honors as a two-sport (football and baseball) star for the Pittsburg High School Pirates...in the preseason (1995) he was listed honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith Magazine...he was listed #93 on SuperPrep Magazine's All-Far West Team...following his senior year he was named honorable mention All-American by USA Today and first-team all-state in California...was a three-time all-league (Bay Valley Athletic League) selection as a running back and he was named all-league as a defensive back also his senior year...was a first-team All-Northern California selection, a first-team all-region selection by the Contra Costa Times and was named Offensive Player of the Year in the region by Sports Focus...played in a post season football all-star game in the summer of 1997...he was an outfielder in baseball and was all-league as a sophomore, junior and senior…runs the 40 in 4.42...as a senior, Ken rushed for 960 yards on 92 carries (10.4 average) and he scored 23 touchdowns...caught 8 passes for 207 yards (25.9 average per kick) and 1 touchdown...averaged over 28 yards on kickoff returns for the Pirates...played his prep football for Coach Thomas Whiting his senior year...was recruited by USC, Washington, Colorado, UNLV and California, in addition to OSU...was listed in Parade Magazine in 1996 as one of the top 100 college baseball prospects in the nation...as a sophomore, Ken rushed for 1,135 yards in 10 games on 105 carries for an average of 10.8 yards per carry...scored 10 touchdowns and had a long run of 86 yards...Ken rushed for 785 yards in eight games as a junior on 47 carries for an average of 16.7 yards per carry...rushed for 14 touchdowns...his best game as a sophomore was against Monte Vista when he rushed for 210 yards on 10 carries and scored 3 touchdowns...his top game as a junior was also against Monte Vista when he rushed for 212 yards on 11 carries and scored 2 touchdowns...accounted for 264 all-purpose yards against De La Salle High School as a sophomore...his coach, Thomas Whiting, said, "Ken is a great competitor, an outstanding leader and a real team player. He has great acceleration and catches the football very well."

Ken Simonton's Career Statistics