Wildcats RB Simmons ready, willing and able

There's nothing but positive reports on Tyrell Sutton's surgically repaired left wrist, which bodes well for Northwestern's Alamo Bowl chances.

But there are two caveats attached to the perpetual Sutton updates:

He won't be able to play the vast majority of the snaps against Missouri on Monday (7 p.m., ESPN) - and there's no way the senior running back can return for the 2009 season and beyond.

That's what makes sophomore running back Stephen Simmons one of the most important players in the Wildcats program.

Simmons, who started the final three games of the regular season after Sutton and senior Omar Conteh went out with injuries, will handle everything Sutton can't Monday.

Then, when spring practice rolls around, he'll be the only runner on the 2009 roster with relevant experience.

In Northwestern's last three games, Simmons rushed 58 times for 159 yards and 2 scores. That's not a successful average (2.7 ypc), but it improved each week.

The upbeat 5-foot-8, 177-pound St. Louis native knows he's not close to where he needs to be.

He has a long checklist of improvements to make - one that starts with "keeping my feet" and ends with "getting in the end zone more often."

He spends spare time watching tapes of his attempts, Sutton's carries and those of other backs who can teach him a few things.

"Speed and quickness and power," Simmons said. "All three, that's what I want to do."

Simmons flashed the first two last year when he returned a kick 99 yards for a score against Ohio State.

But if Simmons suddenly does a Shonn Greene impersonation Monday, then his homage to the Iowa All-American will complete his personal trilogy.

"Shonn Greene, he's a beast," Simmons said with a laugh. "LeSean McCoy of Pittsburgh, he's really good. And who also surprised me a lot was Will Demps from Florida, just because he's quick. He's quick as heck.

"I'm watching how they make their reads, keep their feet and run people over. That's something I've always wanted to do, but I never quite could do it."

Northwestern offensive coordinator Mick McCall wishes Simmons wouldn't necessarily try to compare himself to others. It's part of his own philosophy.

"I will never compare another player to somebody else, because Stephen's got to be his own guy," McCall said. "He's got to do the things he does well.

"He's done a better job in the running game each and every week. He's a short little guy - kind of like Tyrell in some aspects - that can hide behind those linemen and squirt one through. He's done a good job that way.

"And he's gotten better in the passing game. He keeps getting better and better on the little things that he needs to do. He's going to be a productive player, which he already has been the last couple weeks, on our football team."