Auburn WR Malcolm Simmons arrested on domestic assault with strangulation charge

Auburn wide receiver Malcolm Simmons was arrested and charged with domestic assault with strangulation or suffocation on Wednesday, July 16. His bond is set at $20,000.

According to his arrest report, Simmons was booked into the jail in Lee County at 6:20 p.m. No specific details about the situation that led to his arrest was made available.

Simmons was gearing up for his second season with the Tigers this fall. As a freshman in 2024, Simmons caught 40 passes for 451 yards and three touchdowns.

According to Adam Cole of the Montgomery Advertiser, Alabama state law states the charge of domestic violence by strangulation or suffocation is a Class B felony. A defendant facing such a charge could be handed a prison sentence between two and 20 years, including a fine of up to $30,000 upon conviction.

Before college, Simmons was a four-star recruit according to the On3 Industry Rankings, which is
a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 190 overall player in the 2024 class and No. 11 player from the state of Alabama.

Simmons arrest comes shortly after Auburn linebacker D’Angelo Barber was arrested on July 7 on felony drug trafficking charges following a traffic stop in Dadeville. Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force discovered 2.5 pounds of marijuana and a gun in his 2019 GMC Yukon XL stopped along Highway 280.

Barber, 19, was charged with trafficking marijuana, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force press release provided by the Alex City Outlook.

It was ultimately revealed that Tallapoosa County investigators recovered 2.5 pounds of marijuana, THC vapes, digital scales, marijuana packaging, a Glock 19 9mmm pistol and $1,897 in cash following the traffic stop, per the Outlook.

Notably, Auburn basketball star Tahaad Pettiford was arrested on DUI charges in Lee County over the weekend. He posted bond and has since taken full responsibility for his actions.

It’s unclear at the time of this report what Simmons future with the Auburn football team holds. Barber was cut from the team almost immediately, so it remains to be seen if Simmons follows a similar path.

Auburn is set to kick off its 2025 college football season on Aug. 29 against Baylor on the road. Kickoff is set for a special Friday start at 8 p.m. ET. The game will air live on FOX.