Cornerback Matt Simmons, the son of a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team member who was killed in the line of duty, has made a verbal commitment to the Washington State football team, Cougfan.com reported Tuesday.

Randal Simmons, who lettered as a cornerback at WSU from 1976-78, was a popular policeman and community leader when he was shot to death last year.

"I've grown up loving Washington State," Matt Simmons, who will be a senior next season at Bishop Montgomery in Torrance, Calif., told Cougfan.com. "I love the environment up there. ... It's a good campus and I feel like I'm at home there. I've been going there for a long time with my dad."

The 6-foot, 185-pound Simmons said Arizona State, Hawaii and Idaho were among the other schools recruiting him.

College coaches cannot comment on recruits until a letter of intent is signed. The next signing period for high school seniors is in November.