Texas star Colin Simmons is gaining recognition beyond the football field after earning a spot on the AFCA Good Works Team and Wuerffel Trophy list.
Colin Simmons has built his reputation by making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. Now the Texas Longhorns star is being recognized for what he's doing away from the football field.
Simmons was selected to the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, making the junior EDGE a semifinalist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
The award recognizes an FBS player who combines community service with leadership and performance on and off the field.
It's Simmons' first selection to the Good Works Team and his first time advancing to the Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist stage.
If Simmons eventually captures the award, he'd join former Texas standouts Michael Taaffe, who won it in 2025, and Sam Acho, the 2010 recipient.
The recognition stems in large part from Simmons' work with Clay's Color Crew, a nonprofit he founded with his mother, Monica McCarley, in 2024.
Inspired by his younger brother Clayton, the organization works to provide autism resources and facilities to underserved and lower-income communities in South Dallas and beyond.
Simmons has also hosted youth football camps during each of the past two years.
That off-field work comes while Simmons continues establishing himself as one of college football's most disruptive defensive players.
The Dallas native entered 2026 coming off a dominant sophomore season in which he recorded 12 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, 15 pressures and three forced fumbles.
His 12 sacks led the SEC and ranked fifth nationally.
Simmons was also a Walter Camp preseason First-Team All-American and landed on preseason watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Lombardi Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
His production hasn't disappeared in 2026.
After recovering a fumble in Texas' 59-7 season-opening victory over Texas State, Simmons delivered against No. 1 Ohio State.
He recorded two tackles for loss and an eight-yard sack as the Longhorns rallied for a 24-23 victory.
Simmons has now produced 9.5 sacks in 10 career games against AP Top 10 opponents, illustrating why he's considered one of the nation's premier edge defenders.
Next comes another opportunity Saturday night.
No. 1 Texas hosts UTSA at 7 p.m. CT at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, where Simmons can continue building an award résumé that's becoming about much more than sacks and tackles.
