Colin Simmons’ day ended in alarming fashion Saturday when the Texas star edge rusher went down with what appeared to be a lower-body injury in the fourth quarter against Florida.
Medical staff rushed onto the field immediately after Simmons was hurt, and he was helped off gingerly after appearing to suffer a leg injury. He was not putting much weight on the leg that seemed to give out.
Before leaving, Simmons had been everywhere for Texas. Through three quarters, he had piled up a team-high eight total tackles, including five solo stops, along with four tackles for loss and one sack.
He was leading the defensive effort as the No. 7 Longhorns tried to hold off the unranked Gators.
Texas had opened the game with a 10-0 lead, but the momentum swung hard the other way. The Longhorns looked shaky from the end of the first half through the second half, and by the time Simmons was injured, the game was tied 17-17.
Without him, Florida kept moving the ball and grabbed its first lead of the afternoon on a field goal to go ahead 20-17 with 10:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Texas still had other defensive names on the field, including Rasheem Biles, Lance Jackson, and Graceson Littleton, but Simmons was clearly the centerpiece. As a junior and one of the most recognizable players in the program, he has been the anchor of this defense.
He had not returned by the time Florida was lining up for that field goal, and by the end of the drive Texas still needed an update on his status. On the next Florida possession after a Texas turnover on downs, Simmons was seen loading onto a golf cart and leaving the field for what appeared to be further examination.
The one bit of good news for Texas was that sophomore defensive lineman Justus Terry had been taken off the final injury report before kickoff, giving Will Muschamp’s group at least a little help up front.
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Floridas quarterback situation is suddenly a major subplot for the Longhorns, with Aaron Philo trending toward sitting out the upcoming game because of a shoulder injury. If he cannot go, Texas would be preparing for a different look entirely, with sophomore Tramell Jones lined up to make his first career start in a game that already carries plenty of weight for both teams.
Jones was a four-star recruit and has flashed efficiency in limited action this season, enough to draw praise from head coach Jon Sumrall as a potential starting quarterback. For Texas, that means the film and the plan may need a late adjustment, because the offense coming to Austin could be shaped as much by inexperience as by the usual Florida personnel. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Have A Colin Simmons Problem They Can't Afford
Texas got a scare in the fourth quarter against Florida when Colin Simmons, its star pass rusher and the nations sack leader, went down with an apparent leg injury. He was helped off the field and taken for further evaluation, leaving the Longhorns with an immediate concern about one of the most important players on their defense.
Simmons has been central to everything Texas wants to do up front, giving the Longhorns the kind of edge pressure that can change a game in a hurry. Any absence would put extra pressure on a defense that leans on him to disrupt opposing quarterbacks, and it adds another layer of urgency as Texas waits to learn more about the extent of the injury. [Read more 🡒]
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It was the kind of performance that reinforces the message Texas has been sending in Austin, where the Longhorns are now 5-0 at home. With Florida up next, this was another chance for Texas to sharpen its edge and keep building momentum, especially with Stafford giving the offense a steady top-end threat and the rest of the group holding up around her. [Read more 🡒]