Kevin Simon attended De La Salle High School in Walnut Creek, California where he played football and baseball. He was a three-year starter and all-state performer at linebacker and also started at running back as a senior. As a senior he finished with 141 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions on defense. He rushed for 1,283 yards and 16 touchdowns on offense, leading De La Salle to a 13-0 record and its fifth straight state championship. De La Salle had a record of 37 wins 0 losses and 3 state championships during Simon's three years as a starter. He was named first team all-state, Bay Valley MVP, and North Coast Player of the Year for his performance as a senior. He was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, He had surgery in January to repair a knee he injured in the state all-star game. He accepted a scholarship to Tennessee where he sat out the 2001 season as a redshirt. The following season he started three games before breaking his right ankle, effectively ending his season. Prior to the injury he had 29 tackles on the year. He missed a portion of spring practices the following year while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. He returned to start every game as a sophomore, leading the Volunteers in tackles with 115 stops on the year. He also had career highs in sacks (4.5), forced fumbles (1), and interceptions (1). As a junior, Simon started two games totaling 5 tackles before a knee injury ended his season. He returned as a senior with 88 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble.

Kevin Simon is a versatile player who has started at both inside and outside linebacker during his time at Tennessee. He has great instincts and the ability to make plays all over the field. He is a good run defender and a sure tackler. Despite his poor timed speed, he has proven to be a good athlete who can rush the passer or cover tight ends and running backs coming out of the backfield. Kevin Simon lacks ideal size and strength for a linebacker. He will have problems shedding blocks of bigger, stronger offensive linemen. He would benefit from bulking up and increasing his strength. The biggest problem with Simon is his durability. He injured his knee after his senior year in high school, then had two season ending injuries in college. Due to his injuries, he only has two full seasons as a fulltime starter under his belt. Kevin Simon is a player who could project inside or on the weakside in the NFL. He would be a better prospect if not for the injury concerns. He does have a great deal of upside and could be a steal if he can stay healthy. He should be a late round pick in the 2006 NFL draft.