The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 1/1 Football’s Simmons selected to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, named Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist
09.15.2026 | Football
The junior EDGE created Clay’s Color Crew in 2024, a nonprofit that supports the entire Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 1/1 Texas Football junior EDGE Colin Simmons has been named a member of the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which honors 22 college football players and one head coach for their extraordinary for their commitment to service, academic achievement and athletic excellence.
With his selection to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Simmons is now a semifinalist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented annually by the Wuerffel Foundation to the FBS player who best combines exemplary service with leadership and performance on and off the field. A total of 162 individuals were nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team in July.
It's the first time Simmons has earned a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and has been selected as a semifinalist for the award. 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. Simmons was inspired to start Clay's Color Crew by his younger brother, Clayton. 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.
Simmons was placed on preseason watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Lombardi Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The Dallas native was recognized on the Walter Camp preseason First-Team All-America and was named a preseason First-Team All-SEC selection by the league's media and coaches.
A third-year EDGE, Simmons has started in both games for the Longhorns this season. Simmons totaled one tackle, including a 0.5 tackle for a loss of two yards, a quarterback hurry and recovered a fumble in Texas' season opening win against Texas State on Sept. 5. In UT's 24-23 victory over No. 1/1 Ohio State on Sept. 12, Simmons posted 2.0 tackles for a loss of nine yards, including a sack for a loss of eight. Simmons has made 9.5 sacks in 10 career games against AP Top 10 opponents.
Simmons started in all 13 games for the Longhorns in 2025 and was tabbed to the Coaches' All-SEC First Team. Simmons 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.
The Longhorns are back in action at 7 p.m. CT Saturday, Sept. 19, against the UTSA Roadrunners at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will stream on SEC Network+ with Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Austyn Iven (reporter) on the call.
