Simmons has been widely productive in his two years with the Longhorns, but 2026 looms as one where he could separate himself.
Texas Longhorns defensive end Colin Simmons is beginning to make a serious name for himself after his two years with the program.
Simmons will enter the 2026 season as one of the best rushers in college football, and has the chance to stake his claim to be the best ahead of the NFL Draft.
In his two college seasons, Simmons has a combined 21 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, and three forced fumbles, all in 29 games.
So the production is obvious, and the Longhorns' defense will be looking to him to be the quarterback hunter they know him to be if they are to improve on last season's efforts.
And with Simmons' stock clearly on the rise, it appears draft experts are predicting big things from Texas' No. 1 in 2026.
ESPN's Matt Miller, in listing his top five edge rushers in college football entering 2026, has Simmons at No. 1. His counterpart, Jordan Reid, has Simmons at No. 2 on his list.
So, it is clear to see that many view Simmons as one of, if not the best, pass rushers in college.
And Texas has him to unleash on offenses in 2026.
Experts love his elite bend and explosiveness, coupled with his lightning-quick feet and relentless motor. All traits that will serve him well in the NFL.
With many viewing the Longhorns as one of the teams to beat in 2026, largely because of Arch Manning and the offense, Texas could be a formidable team to go against on defense, with Simmons wreaking havoc.
With a 12-2 record in 2025, many believe that 2026 will see an even better return from Steve Sarkisian's team.
Yes, a lot of eyes will be on Manning and Cam Coleman, and rightly so, but Simmons has the potential to make an even bigger impact on the defensive side of the ball.
He had a superb 2025 season, registering 12.0 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 13 games. Look for Simmons to improve on those numbers and firmly establish himself as the best pass rusher in college football.
