Colin Simmons Is the Best Edge Rusher in College Football And the Film Proves It

Colin Simmons exploded onto the scene with the Texas Longhorns in 2024, recording nine sacks, 48 tackles and three forced fumbles en route to earning the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. He built on that campaign with an even stronger 2025, notching 12 sacks while improving his Pro Football Focus pass-rushing and run-defending grades from 90 and 73.4 to 91.7 and 77.2.

He heads into the 2026 season with a new defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp, and more hype than ever. Texas fans are writing big checks for Simmons in 2026, but he is great enough to cash them.

Simmons will have a monster season in 2026, and here is the tape to prove it.

How the Tape Backs Up Simmons

Texas Longhorns defensive end Colin Simmons celebrates with the golden hat following the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The first thing that jumps out about Simmons is his first step. He is consistently the first man off of the ball and sometimes even jumps the snap, creating chaos in the backfield before the lineman in front of him has time to react.

He pairs that skill with incredible bend, making him a threat to generate instant pressure around the edge on every drop back. Take this play against Kentucky, where Simmons beats the tackle vertically and is then able to duck away from his frame, absorbing his strike while contorting his body back towards the passer.

A tackle's best answer to this is to take a more vertical set, kick-sliding farther back, however Simmons easily counters this strategy. His lightning-quick feet allow him to jump inside in an instant, making him a true two-way threat.

The following plays exemplify this. Notice how quickly he explodes across the tackles' faces in both, leaving them grasping at air.

While he is most impactful when pass-rushing, Simmons is no slouch in the run game. His lower body flexion gives him a somewhat unique ability to dip around pullers and absorb contact.

He is also able to compensate for his 246 lb frame with his elite recognition. On this play against Michigan, he immediately sees that the offense is down-blocking away from him, finds the guard that is pulling around to kick him out and bends around him to make the play in the backfield.

Simmons' cognition, especially post-snap, is his secret-sauce. Combining that with his speed means he often knows what play is coming and can get there before it happens.

This play against Vanderbilt, perhpas his best on the year, perfectly demonstrates that.

The Commodores have a kind of double-lead read option called to Simmons' side. They send one blocker across his face and pull another in his direction but ultimately leave him unblocked, the idea being that the decoys would slow him down long enough for the quarterback to make Simmons choose between him and the running back.

Simmons sees through all of it, beelines to the quarterback, rips the ball out and recovers it in one fell swoop.

Simmons also brings an undeniable fire to his role, as his incredible motor keeps him going long into individual downs and throughout entire games. His intensity is also noteworthy, as there are times where he just seems to decide to take over games.

This three-play sequence against Florida shows one of those times while also highlighting many of his earlier-discussed skills. The first play is a demonstration of his inhuman get-off, the second shows how his bend allow him allows him to compensate for his frame and the third typifies his incredible recognition.

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