Texas stars Arch Manning and Colin Simmons wind up on preseason All-Breakout team
The Texas Longhorns are considered one of the favorites to win the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2025-26 for good reason. Not only does Steve Sarkisian have one of the strongest rosters and coaching staffs in the nation, but he has the star power needed to win the big games. Everyone is excited to […]
The Texas Longhorns are considered one of the favorites to win the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2025-26 for good reason. Not only does Steve Sarkisian have one of the strongest rosters and coaching staffs in the nation, but he has the star power needed to win the big games.
Everyone is excited to see quarterback Arch Manning as the team's full-time starter. But we'll also see Colin Simmons earn a bigger role in Year 2 after a phenomenal freshman campaign.
The Athletic included both in their three-man All-Breakout draft in their Until Saturday podcast.
The criteria to make the six-man teams were a bit odd. They considered anyone who didn't make an All-American or First-Team All-Conference squad as eligible. While those were fair baselines, it's hard to think of Manning or Simmons as breakout candidates.
Manning is more understandable than Simmons. Attempting only 90 passes in 2024, he's well-known but not necessarily proven. His skill set is obvious, and Manning has the traits to be a phenomenal player, but the case was successfully made that his true ascension and evaluation begins this coming fall.
Simmons' inclusion was more surprising. He played 472 snaps, ranking third on the team in edge snaps, first in sacks, and second in quarterback pressures. His production will likely jump without Barryn Sorrell blocking snaps, but he's already someone penned into the top 10 of hypothetical 2027 NFL mock drafts.
There were some more odd qualifiers who college football fans would know well, including LT Overton from Alabama, TJ Parker from Clemson, and Dylan Stewart from South Carolina.
Still, it was a fun exercise where the three-man group did well to identify some of the best players who will headline college football in 2025.
