Eagles safety Justin Simmons talks about his bride-to-be

Since his recent engagement, star safety for the Eagles Justin Simmons has attracted a lot of unintentional attention.

Justin has dated his now-fiancé, Taryn Richard, for over five years – since their junior year of high school. After a full college experience dating long-distance, Justin proposed to Taryn in June.

Despite being just a senior in college, this commitment does not intimidate him. Since before coming to Boston College, Justin knew Taryn was the woman he wanted to marry. He was always taught that if he had found a good thing, run with it, don’t run from it. Right before Justin left for his first season with BC, they gave each other promise rings as a symbol for how they want to be with each other for the long haul.

When asked about Taryn you can tell immediately that his love for her goes beyond initial attraction. Justin said: “Taryn is amazing. She is my better half and a huge reason I am so into my faith.

“She just makes me better each day and challenges me to do better. This is very important because after you go through the honey-moon stage which is obviously very fun and lovey-dovey, you reach a point where you need something deeper than that to build off of.”

Junior year of college is when Justin brought up talk of marriage with Taryn to his own parents. They both responded with approving and encouraging words. His mom accompanied him to a few different places to look at rings, and they soon found the perfect ring that matched her description (from crafty investigation).

Weeks prior, he visited Taryn’s mother’s office during her lunch break to ask for her blessing. In response, she said: “I was wondering when you were going to ask me.”

Justin cites his faith as the reason for his ability to maintain his life as a Division 1 athlete and develop his relationship with Taryn.

He said: “The first two years we definitely got tried a lot. I wanted to focus on football and I wasn’t showing her the same attention I was showing her in high school, and vice versa for her during basketball season.”

Justin added: “I know for a fact we probably wouldn’t have made it our four years doing long distance without God being there and him being our backbone.

“At the end of the day when we were both arguing about whatever nonsense, we knew that our hearts were in the right place. We just missed each other. God really brought that to the forefront.

“We would always watch our church sermon online on Sunday and call each other to talk about it. That opened up a lot of conversation [and it] also allowed us to see how we act and think differently.”

The couple also recently read a book together titled Love and Respect. It discusses the love that she desires and the respect he desperately needs.

Justin said: “Everyone thinks that if you love your partner than you will make it.

“Love is obviously really important, but the book goes into more detail about [the different types of love men and women need].

“It is biblical and goes more into that deep understanding.”

He added: “Freshman year I struggled a lot with football and my relationship. I was going through a dire need of someone to talk to and hear me out. I didn’t want to talk to my family because I felt like they wouldn’t understand and I didn’t talk to anyone at school because I barely knew them at the time. That is when I grew most in my relationship with God.

“He obviously understands what I am going through since he put me here.”

He says he wouldn’t have been able to still play for Boston College or even be with Taryn still without God’s help. Justin said: “Our faith is a huge reason as to why we are still together, continue to work and why we made it.

“As faith being the foundation, we were able to recognize that our hearts were in the right place even when we were fighting so we can work through it.”

Justin said if just one person hears his love story and that helps them gets through their relationship struggle, then details of his own relationship is worth it. “Anyway I can spread the love of Jesus and what he has done for not just me, but for everyone, I will jump at the opportunity.

“Although Taryn and my relationship is very inspiring in a cute way, there are some faith-based aspects that jump out and can help a lot of people.

I feel that is almost like my calling to use my position to help and reach people in a positive way”.

Justin is currently training for the NFL Draft in the upcoming spring. If drafted, he will have the opportunity to live in 32 different places.

No matter, Justin and Taryn seem prepared for whatever God has planned for them. He said: “Everything happens for a reason and God puts everyone in certain situations for a reason. If God has brought you to it, he will bring you through it.”

You can find Justin on Monday’s in Hillside tabling for Senior Class Gift or at an Action in Athletes meeting on Thursdays.

Regardless of where you may see him on campus, if you send Justin a smile he is sure to return one right back.