How does Colin Simmons' potential absence impact Texas' defense?
- Story byNortheast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo
- How does Colin Simmons' potential absence impact Texas' defense?
OXFORD – Texas might have the No. 11 defense in college football as far as total yardage is concerned. But the strength and depth of that unit appears like it will be tested this weekend when Ole Miss comes to town with the status of star edge rusher Colin Simmons in doubt.
Simmons, a five-star recruit in the 2024 class, has lived up to his billing since joining the program as a freshman. After notching nine sacks as a true freshman, he followed that up with an All-American sophomore campaign where he registered 12 sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss. Simmons has 10.5 sacks and 16 tackles-for-loss through six games in 2026 – he logged 5.5 against Tennessee alone – and is a candidate for every major end-of-year award imaginable. He is the only player in the FBS to have already logged double-digit sacks.
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Simmons suffered an ankle injury in Texas' 27-24 loss to Florida last week. According to Orangebloods, Simmons is expected to miss three to four weeks, though Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian did not address the report when asked earlier this week. Simmons is listed as doubtful on the first SEC's availability report of the week.
According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons has a pass-rush grade of 88.1, which is the highest in the SEC among edge defenders. He has 26 quarterback hurries this season and 13 quarterback pressures, per PFF. Maraad Watson is second on the team with three sacks, and linebacker Rasheem Biles is the closest to Simmons with 4.5 tackles-for-loss. The next highest-graded pass rusher among Texas defenders who have played in all six games is Biles' 76.
Simmons has 10.5 of Texas' 19 sacks this season and 16 of the Longhorns' 46 tackles-for-loss; Texas is ranked in the top 10 nationally in both statistics.
Ole Miss has faced a pair of elite SEC pass rushers this season in LSU's Princewill Umanmielen and Missouri's Daeden Hopkins. Umanmielen, who is tied for second nationally with eight sacks, logged one of the five total the Rebels have surrendered this year. Hopkins is tied for fourth in the nation with seven sacks but did not record any last weekend in Ole Miss' 31-3 victory.
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The Rebels have the lowest per-game sack total in the SEC (0.83) and are tied for 10th nationally in the category. Ole Miss has surrendered 26 total quarterback hurries as a team, according to PFF.
No. 7 Ole Miss (5-1, 3-1 SEC) plays at No. 19 Texas (4-2, 1-2 SEC) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
