The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football's Simmons named to 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
05.22.2026 | Football
Junior EDGE Colin Simmons was selected to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list for the second-straight season.
Newport Beach, Calif. – Texas Football junior EDGE Colin Simmons was named to the 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch list, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation announced Wednesday. It marks the second-straight season Simmons has earned that preseason honor.
Named after former NFL Hall of Fame star Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy annually goes to the Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year, a player who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity, all characteristics exhibited by Lott during his playing career.
In Simmons' two years at Texas, he has accounted for 91 tackles (54 solo), 29.5 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, five passes defended, one interception, 24 pressures, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The Longhorns have posted a combined 23-6 record in those two seasons with appearances in the College Football Playoff semifinals and SEC Championship Game, along with a Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Championship, in 2024, and a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Championship in 2025.
Simmons started in all 13 games for the Longhorns in 2025 and received second-team All-America accolades from the American Football Coaches Association, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. He was also tabbed to the Coaches' All-SEC First Team. The Dallas native led Texas with 15.5 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks, 15 pressures, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His 12.0 sacks also led the SEC and were sixth in the FBS, while his three forced fumbles were tied for third in the SEC and tied for 19th in the FBS.
Simmons hauled in four SEC weekly honors last season. He was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week after compiling five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, a career-high four pressures and a forced fumble that was returned by teammate for a 52-yard touchdown in the win over Arkansas on Nov. 22. Simmons collected this third SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honor after the win over No. 9/11 Vanderbilt on Nov. 1. Against the Commodores, he produced a strip-sack and also made the recovery on the first Vanderbilt possession of the game to go along with five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Simmons collected his second-straight SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honor after his performance in the road victory at Kentucky on Oct. 18. He recorded a career-high three sacks and a forced fumble versus the Wildcats. He received his first career SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honor after UT's win vs. No. 6/6 Oklahoma on Oct. 11. He logged 2.5 sacks as part of five tackles against the Sooners.
Simmons had a breakout year in his first season on the Forty Acres, 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.
The annual winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy 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.
The winner will be announced at a gala black-tie event at The Pacific Club on December 9, 2026.
