Tyler Legacy's Simeon Garner signs with Texas State for football. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Tyler Legacy defensive end Simeon Garner is headed to San Marcos to play Division I football at Texas State University.

“It was really the connection with Coach (G.J.) Kinne,” Garner said. “He came from East Texas as well. I just really like the area, and the campus was very nice, so I was very excited.”

Kinne, a former standout quarterback at Canton High School and Gilmer High School, is in his second year as the head coach at Texas State, leading the Bobcats to a 15-10 record and their second consecutive bowl game. Kinne is 27-12 as a head coach, previously serving as the head coach for one year at Incarnate Word.

Kinne recently signed a five-year extension, which Garner said was a huge selling point for him. Garner was originally committed to Rice, he announced on Oct. 13. On Oct. 27, Rice announced there would be a coaching change.

Garner recorded 69 tackles, 11 sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception in 2022 as a sophomore at Grace Community. In his first game at Legacy against Lufkin as a junior, Garner suffered a season-ending injury, dislocating his left kneecap.

Garner came back as a senior and had 73 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks and two forced fumbles.

“It was really just a lot of hard work and a lot of prayer,” Garner said. “God helped me through this. And I had a lot of encouragement from my family and my coaches.”

Garner is a 6-4, 240-pound defensive end.

“They’re getting a very goal-oriented and coachable kid,” Tyler Legacy head football coach Beau Trahan said. “You look at him, and he’s got a ton of potential to gain weight and do some special things for them. He’s great in the classroom, not a problem kid at all. They’re getting a steal in my opinion.”

Garner said he will major in business management.