The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football trio lands on Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list
05.28.2025 | Football
The Longhorns are the only program with three student-athletes on the watch list.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football's Anthony Hill Jr., Colin Simmons and Michael Taaffe have been named to the preseason watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation announced Wednesday afternoon. Texas is the only program with three student-athletes featured on the watch list.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded annually to the student-athlete who best exhibits the characteristics of Ronnie Lott by making an IMPACT on and off the field. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Hill started all 16 games at linebacker last season, earning second-team All-America honors by the AFCA, Associated Press, The Sporting News and Walter Camp. The Denton, Texas, product was tabbed a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Butkus awards in 2024. Hill led UT in tackles (103), tackles for loss (16.5), and forced fumbles (4), while sitting third on the squad in sacks (8). He composed three double-digit tackling performances and was credited with 0.5-or-more tackles for loss in 11 different games. Hill received national praise following his standout performance in Texas' 34-3 win over No. 18/16 Oklahoma in the Allstate Red River Rivalry on Oct. 12. He garnered Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 15), Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Oct. 16) and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week accolades (Oct. 14). Against the Sooners, Hill compiled 11 tackles (seven solo), two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pressure in Texas' win. Hill is a third-year player who has appeared in 30 games with 22 starts.
Simmons had a breakout year in his first season on the Forty Acres, emerging as a standout on an elite Texas defense and becoming the first Longhorn to be chosen the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year since the award's inception in 2018. Simmons appeared in all 16 games, leading the team with 9.0 sacks that totaled a loss of 64 yards and ranking second in tackles for loss (14.0-73), quarterback hurries (nine) and forced fumbles (three). Simmons also compiled 48 total tackles (31 solo), an interception and two pass break-ups. He led all FBS freshmen in total sacks, while his nine sacks were the third-most by a freshman in program single-season history.
Taaffe returns to the UT defense after garnering second-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press in 2024. An Austin, Texas native and former walk-on, Taaffe started all 16 games last season, ranking second on the team in total tackles (78), interceptions (2) and pass break-ups (10). He was the only Longhorn to record an interception and a forced fumble in the same game last season after doing so in Texas' win at No. 25/25 Vanderbilt on Oct. 26, earning the Burlsworth's Trophy National Player of the Week and the SEC's Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Taaffe forced two turnovers to go along with six tackles and a pass break-up against the Commodores. In the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl vs. Arizona State, Taaffe logged a career-high 10 tackles (six solo) and two pass break-ups to help send Texas to its second-consecutive CFP semifinal. Taaffe is a fifth-year defensive back who has played in 43 games with 26 starts.
Behind Hill, Simmons and Taaffe, Texas' ranked No. 1 in the FBS in passes intercepted with 22 in 2024. Texas also ranked second nationally in turnovers gained (30) and team passing efficiency defense (104.56), third in total defense (283.4 ypg) and red zone defense (0.692), fourth in scoring defense (15.3 ppg), seventh in passing yards allowed (173.8 ypg), ninth in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.314), 13th in rushing defense (109.6 ypg), 15th in team sacks (2.88) and 22nd in team tackles for loss (7.0). UT shut out opponents in the first half in three of the last four games to cap the regular season – all conference opponents. The Horns finished the regular season giving up just four passing touchdowns – which tied with Ohio State for the fewest in the FBS.
The winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy will be announced in December and is selected by a national voter panel, consisting of former winners, members of the media, coaches, and members of the Board of Directors of The IMPACT Foundation.
Texas opens the 2025 campaign on the road at defending national champion Ohio State on Saturday, Aug. 30, on FOX. The game time will be announced at a later date.
