2004: Ocampo had a great spring and enters fall camp as the Aggies’ starter at sam linebacker.
2003 (Junior): Ocampo was a steady force at linebacker for the Aggies in 2003. He had 20 tackles in a reserve role. He came on strong late in the year, collecting 16 of those 20 tackles in the final seven games. He had three tackles apiece against Western New Mexico (9/6), UL-Lafayette (10/16) and Utah State (11/6). He also had two tackles against Idaho (10/4), Middle Tennessee (10/11), Arkansas State (1/1), Arkansas (11/15) and North Texas (11/25).
2002 (Sophomore): Simon was plagued by a nagging leg injury suffered during fall two a day practices and played in just three games in 2002. Simon recorded five tackles, one tackle for a loss and recovered two fumbles. Simon recorded one tackle for a loss and recovered one fumble against Georgia (9/18). Against UTEP (10/5), Simon recorded a season-high three tackles, one tackle for a loss and one fumble recovery.
2001 (Redshirt Freshman): Ocampo played in 11 of 12 games as a freshman and made 20 total tackles including three for loss, one interception and three passes defended. He had a tremendous game in the Aggies’ victory over Idaho on October 13. He registered a career-high four tackles and had an interception. His interception came at the Aggie four-yard line with New Mexico State leading 38-31 with 7:13 left in the fourth quarter of a 46-39 victory. He also had four tackles including two for loss in a 49-46 win at UL-Lafayette on November 17. He had three tackles including one for loss in the season opener at Louisville (8/23). Simon also had three tackles against nationally ranked teams Texas (9/1) and Kansas State (9/22).
2000 (Freshman): Simon redshirted his first season at New Mexico State.
High School: Ocampo attended Socorro (N.M.) High School where he starred on both offense and defense, leading Socorro to a district 5AAA championship in 1996 and 1997, reaching the state semifinals both years. Simon was a nine-time all-district and five-time all-state selection in football and track. He was named preseason All-America by USA Today and was an honorable mention All-Rocky Mountain pick. He won the state title in the shot put, discus (two-times) and javelin, setting school records in the shot put (57-3), with best marks of 172-2 in the discus and 196-5 in the javelin.
Personal: Simon Jude Ocampo was born in Flagstaff, Ariz. and is the son of Al and Laurie Ocampo. His brother, Damien was a quarterback at NMSU for two seasons and is the head coach at Gadsden High School. Simon is majoring in Elementary Education.
