The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 21/17 Football lands four on Lombardi Award midseason watch list
10.14.2025 | Football
OL DJ Campbell, TE Jack Endries, LB Anthony Hill Jr. and EDGE Colin Simmons were placed on the midseason watch list.
AUSTIN, Texas – Four players from No. 21/17 Texas Football were selected to the midseason watch list for the Lombardi Award, the Lombardi Award committee announced Tuesday morning. OL DJ Campbell, TE Jack Endries, LB Anthony Hill Jr. and EDGE Colin Simmons were placed on the watch list.
All four players earned spots on the Lombardi Award preseason watch list on Aug. 12. Texas' four selections on the midseason watch list tie for the second-most of any program (Alabama – 5, Texas – 4, Ohio State – 4 and Clemson – 4).
Last season, former Longhorn left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. took home the award in addition to the Outland Trophy. He became the fourth Longhorn and first offensive lineman to win the prestigious award, becoming the first recipient since defensive end Brian Orakpo in 2008. Defensive tackles Tony Degrate (1984) and Kenneth Sims (1981) won it in the 1980s. Nine other Longhorns have been finalists, including Justin Blalock (2006), Rodrique Wright (2005), Derrick Johnson (2004), Cory Redding (2002), Doug Dawson (1983), Steve McMichael (1979), Brad Shearer (1977), Bill Wyman (1973) and Jerry Sisemore (1972).
Prior to his senior season in 2025, Campbell was also put on the preseason watch list for the 80th Outland Trophy and garnered preseason First-Team All-SEC praise on offense in July. A 6-foot-3 offensive guard from Arlington, Texas, he has started in all six games at right guard for UT this season. Behind Campbell on the offensive line, sophomore QB Arch Manning has completed 102-of-162 passes for 1,317 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 219.5 yards per contest. Manning ranks 12th in the FBS and second in the SEC in points responsible for (102) and points responsible for per game (17 ppg). The Longhorns have also rushed for over 100 yards in five of six games and average 166.6 yards on the ground.
Endries is a junior from Danville, Calif., who transferred to Texas from Cal during spring 2025. In his first season on the Forty Acres, Endries has started all six games, reeling in 11 receptions for 112 yards (10.2 ypc) and a pair of touchdowns. In the season opener at No. 3/2 Ohio State (8/30), Endries caught a season-high four passes for 50 yards. He followed up that performance against San Jose State (9/6), gathering two receptions for a season-high 52 yards and two touchdowns. Endries has recorded two receptions in each of Texas' last two games at Florida (10/4) and vs. No. 6/6 Oklahoma (10/11).
Hill is a third-year player who has played in 36 career games with 28 starts. Through six games in 2025, Hill has recorded 37 total tackles (16 solo), one tackle for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He is tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles this season. He is coming off a seven-tackle (four solo) outing against No. 6/6 Oklahoma on Oct. 11. He was UT's leading tackler vs. Florida on Oct. 4, notching a career-high 14 stops with a 21-yard fumble return. He had another big performance vs. San Jose State on Sept. 6, registering six tackles (five solo) and a career-high two forced fumbles. In the season opener at No. 3/2 Ohio State on Aug. 30, he logged six tackles (one solo) against the Buckeyes. Prior to the season, he was recognized on preseason watch lists for the Lombardi Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award, Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Simmons, who was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week on Oct. 13, is a second-year player who has played in 22 games with six starts and landed on preseason watch lists for the Lombardi Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Simmons leads the team in tackles for loss (5.0-21), sacks (4.0-18) and quarterback hurries (5) this season to go along with 15 total tackles and a pass breakup. He has recorded at least one tackle for loss in each of the last three games and is coming off a stellar performance in Texas' 23-6 victory over No. 6/6 Oklahoma on Oct. 11. Against the Sooners, Simmons collected a career-high 2.5 sacks as a part of five tackles.
Behind Hill and Simmons' leadership on defense, Texas' defense ranks third in the FBS in scoring defense (11.0 ppg), fourth in rushing defense (74.3 ypg), fifth in kickoff return defense (10.40), sixth in fourth-down conversion percentage defense (0.231), 10th in first down defense (85), 10th in team passing efficiency defense (104.92), 11th in total defense (259.8), 11th in turnovers gained (12) and 12th in passes intercepted (8). The Horns also rank fifth amongst P4 teams in opponent yards per play (4.1). UT's defense has held six of its last seven opponents to under 100 rushing yards, dating back to the 2024 season. Through six games in 2025, Texas has gained 12 turnovers (four fumbles, eight interceptions), which leads the SEC and ranks 11th in the FBS.
Celebrating its 52nd anniversary, the Lombardi Award™ has been presented in Houston, Texas, since its establishment in 1970. The 2025 award dinner is scheduled for Dec.10, 2025, with net proceeds from gala sponsorships and table sales dedicated to supporting cancer research.
Up next, the Longhorns are back on the road to face the Kentucky Wildcats at 6 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 18, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. The game will broadcast on ESPN with Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (sideline).
