Forget what you thought – these advanced analytics say one of the Texas Longhorns’ biggest stars is on another planet compared to others
Everyone knows who Colin Simmons is at this point. He was a Freshman All-American in 2024, All-SEC selection, and one of the top defensive playmakers in the country for 2025. The former five-star prospect has a legitimate shot at winning both the Butkus and Nagurski Awards this year due to his high-level play and the […]
Everyone knows who Colin Simmons is at this point. He was a Freshman All-American in 2024, All-SEC selection, and one of the top defensive playmakers in the country for 2025. The former five-star prospect has a legitimate shot at winning both the Butkus and Nagurski Awards this year due to his high-level play and the elite talent around him on Texas’ defense.
But, does everyone truly know just how dominant and talented Colin Simmons is? Inside Texas’ Justin Nash dove deep into the numbers and what he found was quite staggering.
Let’s get into just how freaking good the Texas EDGE superstar is.
Colin Simmons was able to get home a lot when blitzing the quarterback.
“When rushing the passer, it helps to have a blitz (five or more rushers) against what will often be five or six blockers. That puts more pressure on each individual blocker to stand tall to the task and not allow their defender pass by,” Nash said. “Unsurprisingly, Simmons excelled in these circumstances, getting pressure on the opposing QB at a 23.4 percent rate in 2024 according to Sports Info Solutions. This was the best among all edge rushers in the NCAA (minimum 10 pressures).”
The supporting cast around Simmons was elite in 2024 and has a chance to be elite again in 2025. Anthony Hill Jr., Michael Taaffe, Malik Muhammad, Travis Shaw, and Hero Kanu, just to name a few, are some of the talented dudes around him.
This pressure rate could improve which is insane to think about.
Another thing which makes Colin Simmons so elite is how he can get home on his own.
“You should already know the answer to that, he is the monster that haunts offensive tackles’ nightmares. At a 18.9 percent pressure rate, he was tied for sixth best among defensive ends in college football in those situations,” Nash said. “Abdul Carter out of Penn State had a 19.9 percent pressure rate, and he was just drafted 3rd overall by the New York Giants. Even when teams have the ability to focus two or more blockers on a single rusher, Simmons still wins.”
Offensive lines are going to have to account for others around Simmons. If you double or triple team with a back or tight end, others will get home. So will teams roll the dice and risk one-on-one matchups or bite the bullet and risk dealing with others?
Either way, Texas wins.
I expect Pete Kwiatkowski to bring a lot of pressure in 2025. Colin Simmons should feast.
“At this point, it is likely common sense that no matter how many defenders are rushing the QB, Simmons is a player that is and will be feared,” Nash said. “He ranked first in the nation among 2024 defensive ends in pressure percentage with a 19.8 percent pressure rate with any number of rushers joining him on a given play.”
Kwiatkowski told the media at the start of fall camp in order to be great, Simmons needed to continue to work on the little things. If this is the only thing holding him back from being elite elite like 3rd overall pick elite, it’s not that far off. The staff in Austin should not only enhance Simmons’ game, but with all the help via the transfer portal he has a legitimate shot at being one of the most dominant forces in the sport.
