Texas Star Pass Rusher Named Top-Five Impact Player for 2025

The slow march towards the 2025 college football season is underway and one Texas Longhorns defender is already being touted as one of the more vital players to watch for next year.

On3 Sports released their list of the Top 25 impact players for 2025 and UT edge rusher Colin Simmons checked in at No. 5. The Dallas area native played a major role in the Longhorns’ trip to the College Football Playoff semifinal, winning the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award in the process.

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A five-star prospect out of Duncanville High School, Simmons immediately proved why he was the crown jewel of Texas’ 2024 recruiting class. The true freshman got to work immediately for the Longhorns and emerged as one of the more disruptive edge rushers in the entire SEC.

He finished the year with 47 combined tackles, 14 TFLs, nine sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception, numbers that earned him Freshman All-American status along with the aforementioned Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Simmons is bound to enter his sophomore campaign on preseason All-SEC list and will head into the new year as a strong contender for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s top defensive end.

Simmons wasn’t the only Texas player on On3’s Top 25 list as quarterback Arch Manning checked in at No. 14. Manning’s taking the helm as Texas’ starter has been anticipated since the moment he arrived on campus two years ago and will finally become reality with Quinn Ewers leaving for the NFL Draft.

The legacy QB will have a tough challenge right out the gate when visiting reigning national champion Ohio State in Week 1 and from there, will try to lead the Longhorns to their third straight appearance in the CFP..