Arch Manning and three elite teammates shine as Texas showcases star power. Discover which Longhorns earned top 101 college football honors.
The Texas Longhorns finished the 2025 season with a 10-3 record and missed the College Football Playoff, despite wins over four ranked opponents, including victories over playoff teams Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
The Longhorns kicked off the 2025 campaign with a loss on the road at No. 3 Ohio State. They finished the season by winning their final three games.
Texas was loaded with talent this past season, and four of their own were named among the top 101 players in college football for 2025, according to a story by Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Among the best of the best were safety Michael Taafe, quarterback Arch Manning, Edge Colin Simmons and offensive tackle Trevor Goosby.
#48 Michael Taafe#
Second on the team in tackles with 70, Taafe also intercepted two passes. He earned an overall grade from PFF of 88, which was sixth best among all safeties. Taffe also earned an 89 coverage-grade, seventh-best in the nation. Taafe is headed to Mobile to play in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 31.
#50 Arch Manning#
According to PFF, from a Week 9 win over Mississippi State until the end of last season, Manning earned a grade of 89. Manning accounted for 19 total touchdowns and just two interceptions during that stretch, as the Longhorns won five of their final six games.
Manning did not earn All-SEC honors, despite throwing for over 3,000 yards an accounting for 36 touchdowns. Going into next season, Manning will be the leading returning quarterback in the conference and is sure to be a Heisman Trophy candidate.
#65 Colin Simmons#
Simmons racked up 43 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 15 quarterback pressures and three forced fumbles on his way to earning first-team All-SEC honors. PFF graded Simmons at 91.7 on his pass rushing performance last season.
#68 Trevor Goosby#
Goosby will be one of the top offensive tackles in the country next season, after earning first-team All-SEC accolades last season. In 775 offensive snaps, Goosby allowed just three sacks and was penalized only four times. PFF graded Goosby overall at 83, with pass blocking and run blocking grades above 80.
With Manning returning next season, along with other returning talent, Texas is in great position to improve on the late season momentum from this year. After missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, the Longhorns have one goal in mind: to bring a national title back to the forty acres.