Simmons did not make a good impression after signing on to play at Mississippi State. He was arrested for his part in a March 2016 fight, and a video of him repeatedly punching a woman made him a nationwide target for those wondering why colleges allow the enrollment and athletic participation of players with violent histories. He was found guilty of malicious mischief and pled no contest to simple assault, paying fines and restitution for the woman's medical bills. During his time in Starkville, however, he has had no incidents. He won the team's Newsom Award in the spring of 2018 for his work on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Simmons was a five-star recruit after helping Noxubee County High School win back-to-back Mississippi state titles his junior and senior seasons. He started 3 of 12 games played as a true freshman (40 tackles, 3.5 for loss), suspended only for the opener for his off-field incident. SEC coaches named him to their All-Freshman team. The following year, he was named first-team All-SEC after making 60 stops, 12 for loss, and five sacks for the Bulldogs. Simmons started all 13 games as a junior, again being voted first-team all-conference as well as an Associated Press third-team All-American. He started all 13 games in 2018, leading his team with 17 tackles for loss (including two sacks) among his 63 total stops.

Virginia showed interest in landing Davis as a recruit after he earned first-team all-state honors for Ashburn's Stone Bridge High School. He stuck with the 49ers, however, to be part of the fledging program's beginnings. Davis was academically ineligible in 2014, which meant he could not practice or attend meetings. He leaped into the starting lineup at right guard for the final 10 games of the 2015 season. Davis started 8 of 9 games played at right guard in 2016, earning honorable mention All-Conference USA status. He repeated that honor in 2017, starting all 12 contests at right guard. Davis moved to right tackle in 2018 and his play forced C-USA coaches to vote him second-team all-conference. He only started 7 of 8 games played as a senior due to a four-game NCAA suspension for undisclosed violations.

Hooker was a finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Football Award in 2015 as well as a three-time all-state pick for his play as a defensive back and on offense. He played in all 13 games, making four tackles as a true freshman, primarily on special teams. Hooker got into the defensive lineup during his sophomore season, starting at free or strong safety six times and posting 56 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups in 10 contests (missed three due to a bruised knee). Iowa coaches created a new safety/linebacker hybrid position in their defense for Hooker in 2018. The result of the move was him earning the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year award after racking up 65 tackles, 3.5 for loss, four interceptions, seven pass breakups and a safety in 13 starts.

Walker did not start a game in his first three years with the Bulldogs, but he made an impact while playing in every contest. As a junior in 2017, he ranked second on the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks (among 40 stops) as a key reserve in all 15 games. He showed signs of a breakout in 2016, making 19 stops, 2.5 for loss, in 13 games that year. The top 100 overall recruit from Fairburn, Ga., made nine tackles as a true freshman in 13 games. Coaches finally inserted him into the starting lineup as a senior, and he led the team with 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks among his 45 tackles in 13 starts.

Mountaineer coaches wooed Long out of Ohio, where he was a honorable mention all-state pick his senior season (110 tackles, 16 for loss, three sacks). Long showed up strong in the Russell Athletic Bowl against Miami his redshirt freshman year, making 11 tackles. A preseason knee injury kept Long out of the first four games of the 2017 season, but he won the team's Defensive Player of the Year award and became an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick based on his play in starts at the Will linebacker spot the final nine weeks (76 tackles, team-high 16.5 for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups). Long was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team AP All-American as a redshirt junior, starting all 12 games and leading the Mountaineers with 111 tackles, 19 for loss, and eight sacks. He also broke up four passes and forced one fumble during the year.