The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football’s Simmons tabbed to Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list
08.11.2026 | Football
The award celebrates student-athletes who use their platforms to serve others and create positive change.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football junior EDGE Colin Simmons was named to the 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list, the Wuerffel Foundation announced Tuesday. The award recognizing college football players from across the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) who exemplify community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement.
Widely regarded as college football's premier award for community service, the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy celebrates student-athletes who use their platforms to serve others and create positive change.
It's the first time Simmons has earned a spot on the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list. Two Longhorns have won the Wuerffel Trophy with Michael Taaffe receiving it in 2025 and Sam Acho in 2010.
Simmons, along with his mother Monica McCarley, created Clay's Color Crew in 2024, a nonprofit that supports the entire Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community. Clay's Color Crew brings autism resources and facilities to underserved and lower-economic areas in South Dallas and beyond. Simmons has also held youth football camps over the last two years.
A Walter Camp preseason First-Team All-American and preseason First-Team All-SEC honoree, Simmons is also on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
Simmons, a third-year EDGE, started in all 13 games for the Longhorns in 2025 and was 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 a fumble recovery. His 12.0 sacks led the SEC and ranked fifth in the FBS. Simmons hauled in four SEC weekly honors last season. Simmons 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 a teammate for a 52-yard touchdown in the win over Arkansas on Nov. 22. Simmons collected his third SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honor after the win over No. 9/11 Vanderbilt on Nov. 1. Against the Commodores, Simmons 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 vs. the Wildcats. He received his first career SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week 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. In his first season on the Forty, Simmons took home freshman All-America honors after winning the 2024 Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Award.
In September, 11 student-athletes from the watch list will be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and become semifinalists for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists will be selected by the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy National Selection Committee, with input from a fan vote. The 2026 recipient will be announced live on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11 and serve as captain of the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Texas opens the 2026 season vs. Texas State at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Sept. 5, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will broadcast on ESPN.
