The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football trio selected to Walter Camp Preseason All-America Teams
07.01.2025 | Football
EDGE Colin Simmons and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. were named to the First Team while defensive back Michael Taaffe was placed on the Second Team.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., EDGE Colin Simmons and defensive back Michael Taaffe were named to Walter Camp's Preseason All-America Teams, the organization announced Tuesday. Hill and Simmons each landed on the First Team, while Taaffe earned a spot on the Second Team.
Texas is one of five programs with three players receiving All-America selection, joining Alabama, Clemson, Indiana and Penn State. The Longhorn trio was named to the preseason watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy on May 28.
Hill earns his second-consecutive preseason All-America nod by Walter Camp after being tabbed to the Second Team by the organization in 2024. He 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 also chosen 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. He 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, he compiled 11 tackles (seven solo), two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pressure in Texas' win. He 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. He 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). He also carded 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, he 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. The two forced turnovers went 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, he logged a career-high 10 tackles (six solo) and two pass break-ups to help send Texas to its second-consecutive CFP semifinal. He 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 Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Typically announced in early December, the Walter Camp All-America teams are selected by the FBS head coaches and sports information directors.
