Even before this season began, the Texas Longhorns were rightfully at the epicenter of CFB discourse. This was in part owing to their realignment into the SEC. The consensus notion was that Steve Sarkisian is bringing over a burnt-orange sports car to the southeast. His offensive acumen, in tandem with a former no.1 QB and a plethora of skill position players, supported this notion. However, the Longhorns’ modus operandi in 2024 has not been a swashbuckling offense. 

Texas’ defense has taken the country by storm, something which even those down in Austin didn’t expect. The burnt-orange sports car has, in reality, transpired to be a bulldozer. Stopping anything that moves in its tracks. From the line of scrimmage all the way to the secondary, the Longhorns have been dominant. Among the faction of players gaining plaudits for their escapades, one true freshman has stood out.

5-star recruit Colin Simmons has stepped up to the collegiate level like it’s nothing. All season, Simmons has been a key proponent of Steve Sarkisian’s defense and their disposition as a Natty contender. The teenager, ranked no.8 in the class of ‘24, is already one of the best players in the sport. This is not lost on the wider CFB sphere. Ex-NFL scout John Middlekauff believes he’s already capable of moving up to the big league.

During Texas’ win over Clemson in their CFP round 1 matchup, Colin Simmons caught bodies, footballs and a whole lot of eyeballs. In the aftermath of his stellar performance, Middlekauff expressed his awe on his namesake YouTube channel. His co-host, “Intern Jackson”, remarked, “You talk about Texas’ defense. That Colin Simmons kid, [number] 11? He’d probably get drafted [in the] top 10 right now. He’s their best player, and he’s a true freshman. It’s incredible.” John Middlekauff concurred with this sentiment.

Middlekauff said, “I feel like you could take the couple [number] 11s that we saw today playing defense, and they would immediately start next week for, like, half the NFL.”

The other #11 that’s being referred to is Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter. Carter is a consensus Day 1 pick off the draft board in April, conservatively. He’s likely to go in the top 10. Being discussed in the company of Carter’s ilk is evidence of how far Colin Simmons has ascended in a single season. He’s not even finished yet, as Texas trudges along towards their ultimate goal. They’ll seemingly continue leaning on their defense for the most part, and Simmons is bound to be a feature of the national spotlight after his performance against Clemson.

Colin Simmons achieved a career-first feat in playoff debut vs Clemson

It’s inadvertent that the flashy plays stick out in the minds of even the most eagled-eyed spectators. For QBs, one chunk play airing it for 40 yards can overarch the rest of their performance. For defensive players, that effect is perhaps parallelled by an interception. That’s what appears to have been the case with Colin Simmons.

Simmons conjured his first INT of the season on Saturday. This adds to his gaudy 39 tackles, 8 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. For a player that can play in both the D-line as an edge rusher or as a linebacker, depending on the scheme and coverage, those are exceptional numbers. Not insinuating that Colin Simmons caught the eye for his INT exclusively. However he won’t mind that he’s getting his flowers from the likes of John Middlekauff.

With 3 more years of eligibility, it’s safe to assume Simmons will not see out its entirety with Steve Sarkisian before making the step up to the NFL. Franchises yearn for a talent like him who can get after the quarterback at a high clip. He will hope to continue taking strides both individually and as a collective. Texas’ defense is probably the best unit left in the playoffs. It’s not hyperbolic to say that the National Championship’s direction is dictated by Colin Simmons and his comrades.