Colin Simmons is a name that's becoming synonymous with dominance on the defensive line for the Texas Longhorns. As he gears up for the 2026 season, Simmons stands on the brink of separating himself from the pack as one of college football's premier pass rushers.
In his two seasons with the Longhorns, Simmons has racked up an impressive stat line: 21 sacks, 29.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, and three forced fumbles over 29 games. These numbers speak volumes about his impact on the field and why the Longhorns are counting on him to be their quarterback's nightmare this season.
The buzz around Simmons is only growing, with draft experts predicting a bright future for Texas' standout defensive end. ESPN's Matt Miller ranks Simmons as the top edge rusher entering 2026, while Jordan Reid lists him at a close second. This consensus highlights Simmons' status as a top-tier talent in college football.
What sets Simmons apart is his elite combination of bend, explosiveness, quick feet, and a relentless motor-traits that are highly coveted at the next level. As Texas looks to capitalize on a promising 12-2 record from 2025, Simmons' defensive prowess will be crucial in their quest for glory.
While much of the spotlight may shine on offensive stars like Arch Manning and Cam Coleman, Simmons has the potential to be the game-changer on defense. His 2025 season was nothing short of spectacular, with 12 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in just 13 games.
As we look ahead, expect Simmons to build on these numbers and solidify his reputation as college football's top pass rusher. With Simmons leading the charge, the Longhorns' defense could be a force to be reckoned with in 2026.
In Other News...
Texas May Be Closing In On A Rare Five-Star Lineman
Texas has been working hard to land five-star offensive lineman Ismael Camara, and the interest makes sense when you look at the profile. At 6-foot-6 and 345 pounds, Camara brings the kind of size and athleticism that can change an offensive line, along with the flexibility that lets evaluators imagine him fitting in multiple spots. The Longhorns have treated him like a priority target, and after recently bringing him to campus for an official visit, they have every reason to feel better about where things stand than they did a few weeks ago.
Camaras recruitment is getting extra attention because the usual timeline does not apply here. He is moving through high school on an accelerated schedule, which makes his path to college more complicated than most blue-chip linemen and leaves programs trying to balance urgency with planning. Texas is also intrigued by how quickly he could help once he arrives, which is part of why this is becoming one of the more interesting front-burner battles to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Sounds Like A Different Threat For Texas In 2026
Arch Mannings first season as Texas starting quarterback came with the usual growing pains, but it also gave the Longhorns a clearer picture of what he can become. He talked through an uneven start, then pointed to the way he settled in late in 2025, when the game started slowing down and his own comfort level grew. Manning also sounded focused on the broader job now in front of him, from handling leadership to carrying the lessons of a year that asked a lot of him.
The bigger takeaway for Texas is that Manning appears to be entering 2026 with a different body and a different edge. He said an offseason of physical changes followed foot surgery and helped reshape how he looks and feels going into the next season, while his comments on teammates and his preparation suggested a quarterback more intent on direction than hype. For a program that has been waiting to see what his second act looks like, the early signs are that the next version may be stronger, steadier and harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Have Found The Defender This Unit Desperately Needed
Texas had a clear need to address the middle of its defense after Anthony Hill Jr.s draft opened a spot that mattered plenty in a room built to play fast and punish mistakes. The answer arrived in the form of Rasheem Biles, who is transferring in from Pittsburgh with the kind of resume that makes a staff feel a lot better about how the next defense will be stitched together.
Biles is coming off a breakout 2025 season that turned heads well beyond Pittsburgh, and the Longhorns are betting that production travels. He arrives with a chance to be an immediate difference-maker in Austin, and with NFL evaluators already paying attention, the stakes around his move are bigger than just one roster hole. [Read more 🡒]