Former Washington running back and linebacker Tyler Simmons is having a breakthrough season on the football field for the Naval Academy.

Simmons is Navy’s third leading tackler this season with 26 stops after four games. He is an inside linebacker for the Midshipmen, who are 2-2 on the season, including throwing a big scare into Ohio State before losing 31-27 in the season opener.

Simmons is a junior for Navy and is seeing is first significant college playing time this season. He had 10 tackles in a limited role in 2008. He was one of the top players in a long line of good ones down the road at Washington, leading the Warriors to 37 wins his final three years in high school.

Simmons’ closest trip to home for a game will be an Oct. 17 Navy game in Dallas against SMU.