We are down to just 80 days until Texas football, and today is all about the emotional leader of this team, Colin Simmons. The junior enters a “contract season” with his eyes set on a top 10 selection in the NFL Draft next spring. For now though, he’s locked in on this season and it’s clear the team follows the example No. 1 sets. This offseason, he seems to be setting a “we are going to dominate and talk while we do it”.
Colin Simmons has made something of a habit out of making headlines. It mainly happens when he’s taking a not-so-thinly veiled shot at one of the Longhorns opponents. While that approach can rub some the wrong way and does have a line, the energy behind the quotes is important. It’s important because that energy is what has been largely missing from Steve Sarkisian’s Texas teams.
Nastiness is a word I’ve said many times this offseason and will say plenty during the season. It’s a word that has to be used to describe the 2026 team if they want to win a National Championship. I believe that starts with Colin Simmons. Anyone that watches him on Saturdays knows he plays with an explosiveness and physicality that isn’t replicated in many other places in the sport. That on-field nastiness mixed with the off-field confidence needs to infect the rest of this team.
None of this is to say Colin Simmons is the only “nasty” player on the team. I believe the defense is filled with guys that play with that nastiness. The difference is no one is looked to as much as Simmons is. He has the ability and power to give that mentality to the rest of this team. The others will have to buy into it but Simmons is the one that can truly change the culture of this team.
The good news for Simmons is he’s not alone. I believe the defensive coordinator Will Muschamp might give him a run for his money when it comes to decibel level at practice. Add in Rasheem Biles, Hero Kanu, Jelani McDonald and you have a strong leadership unit on the defense. If that group can instill a touch more “nastiness” into this team, watch out.
It can’t be overstated how important Colin Simmons is to this team. He’s arguably the best defensive player in the country but he’s also one of two main leaders of this team. The 2026 Texas football team will go wherever Simmons and Manning go. I believe Simmons is the one that can provide Texas with what many argue have been the missing ingredient to a title: just a little nastiness.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Simmons’ mentality could be key to Texas title
Reporting by Tommy Bresee, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tommy Bresee, Longhorns Wire | USA TODAY Network
