It's fair to say that Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer junior athlete, Antjuan Simmons, is experiencing a pretty good recruiting process. The 6-0, 207-pounder, who can play either running back or linebacker, has eight Mid-American Conference scholarship offers to his name, and recently picked up his first Big Ten offer, from Illinois. It

signified a huge step up in his recruitment.

"It really feels good getting my first Big 10 offer," Simmons said. "It'a still a blessing to have nine (offers), but getting a Big Ten offer is a wake up call, because it shows you can compete against the best talent in the country. So I just have to keep working, and remain humble.

"I don't know a whole lot about Illinois. I just know that they have a strong football tradition, and I want to get on top of the Big 10."

The Power Five offer was a nice gesture, and accomplishment for Simmons, but it won't effect the way he proceeds with his recruitment. Playing at the highest level of college football is important, but it's not the only meaningful factor.

"I don't want to just pick a school because they play the top programs in the country," said Simmons. "I want to play somewhere where I love to be at everyday.

"Academics, a family atmosphere, work ethic of the team, and if the the coaches will push me to the furthest limit possible, are the things I will be looking for in a school."

Simmons obviously knows what he will require when he finally decides to sign to a college, but that won't be until some time from now. So else has been in the mix for his services. Aside from the Illini, a handful of Southeastern Conference schools, and a few other Big Ten schools, including the big two in his own backyard.

"MSU is a slow recruiting school so, they're taking their time with it," Simmons said of the Spartans. "But they've been more aggressive lately since I attended their camp. They want me on campus more often, so me and my mother can get closer to Coach Dantonio.

"Michigan is very interested too. They've been very aggressive since I went to their camp. Me an Coach Wheatley are starting to get closer."

Simmons doesn't have a favorite school, or anyone that sticks to him, as he is open to anyone right now, with him only being a junior in high school when school starts back. To help ease the stress of the entire process, he plans on taking a couple of visits in the best future, so he can focus more on his upcoming season, which starts next month.

"I want to take 4-6 more visits before camp starts for my school," he said. "Ohio State, Tennessee maybe, Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan are schools I want to see. Those are just maybes. Nothing is set and locked in stone. I still have to go over everything with my trainer an mother. Those are just places I personally would like to visit before my camp starts."

The Pioneers went 5-4 last season, a step up from their 3-6 season in 2013, and hope to better that record in 2015. They are a program on the rise in that area, and Simmons is very optimistic about the upcoming season.

"Yes, I'm very excited," Simmons said about the season coming up. "We were young and inexperienced last year, and we pretty much have that whole team back, so I think we're going to make some noise this season."