UAlbany’s AJ Simon was one of the best at getting after the quarterback in the FCS this past season. His 12.5 sacks was the third most in the nation.

“I always knew I could play at a bigger level,” said Simon on March 26, after working out for NFL scouts. “When I transferred, it was my time to shine.”

He was an absolute beast on the field. But off the gridiron, his coaches and teammates say is where Simon really made an impact.

“He was one of my favorite people I ever coached,” said Greg Gattuso, head coach of UAlbany football.

“He was a guy that, my first or second day here, I’m sitting at my locker and he comes up, and he was a man of few words, but he came up and said ‘hey, I’m AJ Simon. Glad to have you,’” said Trey Lindsey, a graduate quarterback for the Great Danes.

Simon had NFL aspirations and drew interest from scouts after workouts at UB and UAlbany’s pro days in March. It’s quite a feat for someone who started his career at Division II Bloomsburg University.

“Going D2, not a lot of people come out of D2 schools,” Simon said. “But I was always an athlete. I just had an unfortunate high school career because I tore both of my ACLs. So when I transferred, I guess it was time because of the years that I had.”

But a week before NFL draft, on April 16, Simon suddenly died at the age of 25. According to his obituary, he passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep.

“It’s been difficult for all of us,” Gattuso said. “The trainers, the coaches, the strength and conditioning, he’ll be missed.”

Gattuso described his two years of coaching Simon as joyous. His program paid tribute to their former pass rusher at the spring game by repping his number “8.” A few days later, numerous members of the team and athletic department attended Simon’s funeral in his hometown of Tobyhanna, Pa.

“Mom and dad and sisters are amazing. His mom is consoling us, trying to make us feel better. She's a special person,” Gattuso said.

A GoFundMe set up by his family for funeral expenses has raised more than $38,000. It shows the impact Simon continues to make as a son, brother, uncle, teammate and friend to many.

“It's hard to put into words,” Lindsey said. “If there is a superman that I've ever known, it was that guy.”