Sitting down with JJ and Matt, it would seem as if you were sitting down with two brothers who just didn't know when to stop picking on each other. They feed off each other's thoughts, finished each other's sentences,and offered bloopers about one another. Witnessing this camaraderie, it's almost spellbinding to think that these friends once lived more than 700 miles apart.

Maddox, a New Jersey native, grew up with a tradition of football in his blood. His grandfather played football at Rutgers and his father, William, at Syracuse before becoming a fourth-round draft pick for the San Diego Chargers. His brother, Mike, also played college football--at Cincinnati.

A love of the game also runs deep in the Simmons family. JJ is a northern Indiana native whose grandfather, Jack, played professional football for the Chicago Cardinals and the Detroit Lions.

Maddox decided to join the Illini because of their excellent placement into the NFL and strong sense of tradition. Simmons, on the other hand, was impressed with the University in general and Harry Hiestand, the Illinois offensive line coach when he was being recruited, who is now with the Chicago Bears.

After redshirting in 2002, Simmons and Maddox really got to know each other in the spring of 2003, where it became evident how much the two had in common, besides being fresh meat on the field.

"We just kind of hit it off at camp because we got to hang out all the time with our rooms being right next to each other," said Simmons. "We hung together because we knew we would get beat up by all the seniors."

"JJ and I were just so alike that we just clicked during camp," said Maddox. "We sat next to each other in the locker room and would talk about stories from high school."

"And he knew the play book," said Simmons. "I was horrible at plays, so I was always asking him where I was supposed to be."

After connecting in spring ball, they decided to become roommates and have been for the last three years. During this time, the linemen credit the support of each other for their successes on and off the field.

"The entire offensive line lives in one apartment complex, so we are around each other 24/7," Simmons said. "We're like a little cult. But it's a good thing we're together so much because the offensive line is like one player on the football field. If one guy isn't doing his job, the whole thing suffers. So it's good that we all live together."

The constant close proximity to one other has helped these two strengthen the friendship they have developed since their freshman year.

"There actually has never been a two-hour grace period when I haven't seen Matt," Simmons said. "He's pretty much family now because we sleep 20 feet away from each other. There are definitely no secrets between us."

"People always used to joke with us because they would say we were like a married couple because we went everywhere together," said Maddox. "We even would get in little fights about the dumbest things in the world."

JJ Simmons

During the 2005 season, Simmons experienced reoccurring problems with his knees, problems which he had surgery to correct in December, 2005. While JJ was recovering from surgery, Matt was assigned the part of caretaker, one he accepted willingly.

"For awhile, I was JJ's nanny because he really couldn't do anything," Maddox said. "He was just bed-ridden and in so much pain. The only time he got up was to go to the bathroom. So I was like Mr. Mom."

Despite his unfortunate situation, Simmons found that humor and having Maddox around helped him through.

"One time I fell down the stairs at the apartments while I was on crutches, and I told Matt, 'You can laugh. You just have to help me up.'" Currently, Simmons is battling back from the injury with the support of Maddox, his teammates and his coaches. He should be able to rejoin the ranks of the offensive line soon.

"Things are going really good now," Simmons said. "I was having a rough year starting spring ball. I improved a little bit but then it relapsed because I pushed it a little too hard. But now, I'm doing things the right way and things are starting to come back."

Reflecting on his roommate's injury, Maddox explained his difficulty witnessing the ordeal.

"It's tough to watch your brother struggle," Maddox said. "He's working as hard as he can. It's tough to see someone work as hard as he does and not get too much out of it, but now it's starting to pay off for him."

In addition to determination and a hard work ethic, these two also share a strong desire to give back to the community that supports them. In July, Simmons and Maddox, along with teammate E.B. Halsey, spearheaded an effort to raise funds for the Cunningham Children's Home in Champaign. The organization supports area youth who are in need of educational, behavioral or psychological assistance and has a general philosophy to put kids' needs first and to do whatever it takes to help each one of them.

"In the past, the team used to play softball together to build team chemistry during the summertime," Simmons said. "This year, we wanted to do something else where the whole team could still come together while doing something good for the community."

The goal of the Cunningham Children's Home-Illinois Football partnership was to help the players and kids connect, help them put a face to one another and have the team come together as a cohesive unit to support Cunningham.

"The first thing we wanted to do was score a touchdown for Cunningham Children's Home by collecting things they needed to support the home," said Maddox. "We had radio stations come in and encourage people to donate everyday goods, like school supplies, socks and shampoo, and lined them up across the field spanning all 100 yards with $13,000 worth of goods in 12 hours."

After the success of the donation drive, the three Illinois players also organized three additional nights where the children from Cunningham could spend time with the football players. The players hosted a movie night in the football squad room where kids got to mingle with players and get autographs while watching the movie Glory Road. Then, an indoor fun fest was held at the indoor practice facility, where kids could work their way through typical football drills, like the 40-yard dash and field goal kicking, and witness what practice is like for the players. The final event saw the offensive linemen travel to the home to swim with the kids, but instead, they were pushed inside to play basketball because of rain.

Cunningham Children's Home Vice President for Development Cloydia Hill Larimore could not say enough about the efforts and attitudes Maddox, Simmons and Halsey had throughout this event.

Matt Maddox

"Matt was very organized and all of the players were wonderful to work with," Larimore said. "They were super with the kids and I felt the players and the kids really connected with each other. You could tell this was something they weren't obligated to do, but that they really wanted to do. And the kids loved it! In fact, after the swim, one of the kids asked me, 'Is that the last thing we get to do with the players?"

While Maddox and Simmons can combine their efforts to benefit the community, they still admit there's a small rivalry between them on and off the football field.

"There's definitely competition between us, but I think it's a healthy thing," said Simmons. "Because we're so close, it's not really going to matter. You just know you lost that day and you're going to get back up and do what it takes tomorrow."

"We all want what's best for the team," Maddox said. "If competing with another guy makes the team better, than that's what we're for."

However, when it comes to Playstation, food and the TV remote control, it sounds like these two friends will never stop fighting.

Maddox and Simmons are not only living proof of how hard work produces success on the football field, but also prove how the fellowship and bond between roommates, friends and teammates can be thicker than blood.