Sam Simmons hobbled to practice last March feeling soft. Still recovering from a broken clavicle, Northwestern’s junior wide receiver reluctantly draped the no-contact orange vest over his jersey and spent spring practice cemented on the sideline.

He had undergone surgery, been unable to lift weights for months and was admittedly out of shape.

One year and two mind-boggling catches later, Simmons has sprinted into spring with a new agenda.

“It’s completely different now,” Simmons said. “I’m not 215, I’m not weak. Now I’m in shape, I’m strong and I’m faster than I’ve ever been.

“I’m here now and last year I wasn’t, so everything is different.”

As the lone senior in NU’s receiving corps, Simmons knew offseason improvement was no longer a goal, but a necessity. Heading into January, the game-winning touchdowns against Minnesota and Michigan were obsolete – Simmons’ objective was to become physically and mentally prepared for next season.

So while most of his teammates took a break after the Alamo Bowl festivities, Simmons went right back to work, pumping iron at the Byron S. Coon strength and conditioning center throughout the winter months.

And when practice kicked off March 28, Simmons had evidence. The numbers didn’t lie – Simmons had obliterated his previous weightlifting bests.

Simmons upped his bench press by 50 pounds to 345, elevated his power clean 40 pounds to 325 and increased his squat 110 pounds to 550.

“I got stronger than I’ve ever been in the weight room – I’m in the best shape of my life and I’ve got the offense down,” Simmons said. “I’m feeling good about everything.”

For Simmons’ coaches, his personal development was astounding.

“Sam had the kind of offseason he had to have,” head coach Randy Walker said. “He had some of the biggest strength gains in our program, ran hard and conditioned. And let’s tell it like it is – Sam’s history has been in and out. I don’t think he’s ever put together a whole season, and he recognized that in himself and knew a real good weight program would assist his ability to go the distance.”

The offseason progress was reminiscent of Simmons’ many gutsy performances on the gridiron last season. Perhaps his most impressive exhibition of will and strength came at Minnesota, a game he was slated to sit out because of a nagging back injury.

Lost amid the excitement of his last-second Hail Mary catch was the fact that Simmons led NU receivers with five catches, 91 yards and two touchdowns. A week later against Michigan he hauled in 12 passes for 124 yards, including the game-winner – an 11-yard bullet from quarterback Zak Kustok.

“He made those plays and showed a lot of toughness in those games,” wide receivers coach Howard Feggins said. “When you practice hard, good things happen to you.”

Junior wide receiver Jon Schweighardt was Simmons’ wing man on the bench during spring practice last year. The duo had both suffered season-ending injuries in NU’s homecoming win over Iowa in October 1999, with Schweighardt fracturing his elbow in the second quarter.

Hampered by their injuries following the season, Schweighardt and Simmons made weight training a priority this year.

“This past offseason was a good one for both of us because we’re at full strength, our injuries were not bothering us and we were able to get in the weight room and get bigger,” Schweighardt said. “Sam is a real strong kid, and I knew I needed to get my weight up. He got a lot stronger and I got a lot stronger.”

Simmons’ offseason advancement was vital as he takes over an experienced group of returning wideouts. Although the Wildcats lost leading receiver Teddy Johnson to graduation, three players – Simmons, Schweighardt and sophomore Kunle Patrick – played at least 11 games and combined for 49 percent of NU’s receptions.

In only its second season, the Cats’ spread offense includes several three- and four-wideout formations and relies heavily on a balanced running and passing attack. While NU improved its passing average by 69 yards per game from 1999 to 2000, Simmons is in part responsible for increasing that total again next season.

“My thing with Sam right now is that if the wide receiver corps is bad, it’s his fault,” Feggins said. “I’m telling him as a senior leader, he’s got to keep these guys doing the right things. It’s his job to make the receiving corps good. I just oversee him.”

Simmons said he welcomes the added pressure and understands his role in the Cats’ success. While most of NU’s projected starters have experience, younger players such as sophomore Roger Jordan and Notre Dame transfer Jovan Witherspoon will benefit from veteran guidance.

“I’m going out leaving these young guys to take it over,” Simmons said. “So I’m trying to show them a good example in everything I do – in the weight room and on the field and off the field – to get them ready for years to come.”

Ideally Simmons would spend those years to come in the NFL. While he hesitates to look too far ahead, Simmons said he aims to land in the pros as a return specialist or fifth or sixth receiver.

To attain his lifelong dream, Simmons needs to improve his speed and, if any more improvement is possible, his strength. Above all, he must remain healthy for an entire season.

“It’s everyone’s goal; it’s been my goal since day one,” Simmons said. “I’ve got to show the league that I can go out there and play 12 games, outrun people, shake them up and score.”