UAlbany football FCS playoffs second round game — 12/2/23
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Richmond quarterback Kyle Wickersham is sacked by UAlbany's Sammy Knipe and AJ Simon at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany in the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.

 PETER R. BARBER

Amitral “AJ” Simon Jr., a first team All-CAA defensive end whose pass rushing exploits were a huge part of UAlbany football’s run to the semifinals of the NCAA FCS playoffs this past season, has died, the program announced Wednesday.

He was 25.

In a post on X on Wednesday afternoon, UAlbany football released a statement that, “The UAlbany football program was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former student-athlete Amitral ‘AJ’ Simon this morning. AJ was a tremendous young man and even better teammate throughout his time at UAlbany. He was a role model both on and off the field, serving as a pillar to this program over the last two years. He will be profoundly missed.

Great Danes head coach Greg Gattuso wrote in an X post, “Two joyous year[s] coaching and becoming friends with AJ Simon. My prayers are dedicated to the Simon family. I love you AJ and will always have a special place in my heart for #8.”

Simon arrived in UAlbany in 2022, after the Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania native started his collegiate career at Bloomsburg University.

He had five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022, and then the 6-foot-1 lineman took his game to another level this past season when he produced 12.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. He joined fellow defensive end Anton Juncaj as the leaders of a pass rush that produced the most sacks of any FCS team in 2023.

Simon had four games with multiple sacks in 2023, including three sacks against both Fordham and Villanova, along with two sacks and a forced fumble in the Great Danes’ second-round FCS playoff win over Richmond.

Simon departed UAlbany after the 2023 season and was hoping to be selected in next week’s NFL Draft.

Reach Adam Shinder at ashinder@dailygazette.net. Follow him on X @Adam_Shinder.