ArDarius Stewart threw out questions at random times inside the hotel room, impromptu quizzes to test T.J. Simmons' understanding of Alabama's playbook.

If Simmons' answer was wrong, Stewart made the then-freshman open the playbook and find the correct answer.

That went on throughout last season.

The two wide receivers were hotel roommates for Crimson Tide road games as well as the night before home games.

"We could be sitting around watching TV and I would be like 'What route do you have on this play?' or 'What's the concept on this?' or 'What's the split on this?' or 'What signal is this?' and I would start signaling him different things," said Stewart, who is now a rookie with the New York Jets. "My objective was to help make him a better player than I was when I was there."

Stewart has been a mentor and big brother figure for Simmons. And Simmons is now emerging as a legitimate contender for playing time entering Year 2 with the Tide while reminding at least some inside the program of his former hotel roommate.

"I see a lot of me in him," said Stewart, a first-team All-SEC selection last season.

Like Stewart, Simmons is known for being uncommonly tough and physical at wide receiver.

While not as fast as Stewart, Simmons has good size at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and posted a solid 40-yard dash time during Alabama's spring testing in March (4.58).

The Clay-Chalkville product has also made significant progress in the weight room since first arriving at Alabama in January 2016.

Simmons, known to those close to him as "Lil Fufu," had the top squat among wide receivers and defensive backs during the Tide's spring testing (500 pounds). The Pinson native was also tied for first among receivers and defensive backs with a 315-pound power clean and was tied for second among wide receivers with a 335-pound bench press.

Simmons did almost 50 pounds more in all three lifts compared to the numbers he recorded during Alabama's 2016 spring testing.

"He's a guy that can get in there and make things happen," Stewart said. "He's physical. He'll go up and get the ball. That's something we worked on because he used to just let it fall in his hands. He's real tough, and he's very coachable. He also has strong hands and is very smart on the field and reading coverages. And when he has his mind set to do something, he's going to do it. It's just in him. He's very self-motivated and can really make things happen, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if he gets onto the field this year. I know he can do it."

The former three-star recruit played in 12 games as a true freshman last season, contributing primarily on special teams.

Simmons progressed on special teams after a funny early moment on the kickoff coverage team.

The night before his first game on the kick coverage team, Simmons told Stewart that he was nervous.

"Hey man, you just go out there and hit the first thing that moves," Stewart told Simmons.

"Even if they ain't got the ball?" Simmons asked.

"Even if they ain't got the ball," Stewart responded. "Just hit 'em."

Simmons did that, aggressively hitting the first opponent he came in contact with. The problem? He forgot to then go and chase the kick returner, which Stewart joked about with him when he got back to the sideline.

"I was like, 'Hey bro, still get to the ball and go tackle 'em,'" a laughing Stewart recalled. "He was right there, but he wasn't thinking about the tackle. He was just thinking about that first hit. That was hilarious to me."

Simmons will likely have a role on special teams again this year.

He is also positioning himself to see more time on offense, set to enter fall camp firmly in the mix for a spot in the Tide's receiver rotation following a productive spring.

Simmons had seven catches during Alabama's first spring scrimmage, was a standout during the second scrimmage and then hauled in a game-high six catches for 82 yards during the Tide's spring game.

His first catch was the game's first touchdown, a juggling, one-handed catch behind second-team cornerback Aaron Robinson for a 15-yard score.

"He's very dedicated," said Simmons' mother, Pam Evans. "He's told me that he's excited and that he's studying really hard to learn all the plays because he wants to be one of the starters this year."

A big compliment for Simmons is something other current Alabama wide receivers have told Stewart, "Hey, T.J. is looking like you out here, man."