Colin Simmons (EDGE rusher, Texas) has made a strong impact in his early college career. He already has 21 sacks in two years. How does he project as an NFL Draft prospect?
Colin Simmons Early Scouting Report
Measureables
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 245 lbs
Statistics
2025: 12 sacks, 43 tackles, including 15.5 tackles for loss.
2024: nine sacks, 48 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss.
The Tape
Games Watched: Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M.
Strengths
Simmons is a well-rounded prospect who is not just a one-dimensional edge rusher. While he lines up predominantly on the edge, he will line up as a “Joker” (linebacker in the A or B gap). Texas also asked him to drop in coverage, mostly zone.
In zone coverage, he looks comfortable in space. His hips look smooth, and he gets depth quickly. Simmons reads the quarterback’s eyes well and can break on the ball quickly. On the occasions when he was asked to cover man-to-man, his speed allowed him to stay with his man well.
Against the run, despite not being the biggest at 245 lbs, Simmons can set an edge. He tries his best to anchor and will then fight to get off blocks. On the backside, he keeps the backside contained well, and his closing speed helps him get involved in plays.
As a pass rusher, Simmons has been far more productive than South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart in terms of sacks. His tape is similar in that both show elite athletic ability… in flashes.
There are flashes of an elite get-off from Simmons. That immediately stresses even the best offensive tackles. Simmons flashes the ability to use his hands well to keep an offensive tackle’s initial strike from getting into his chest.
Simmons’ best trait is his closing speed, which is elite. A quarterback may think rolling out to extend a play will help, but not with Simmons in pursuit. His best plays are in this area. The desire to get to the quarterback is also clear.
When I watched Dylan Stewart, South Carolina didn't use him in the way Texas use Colin Simmons here. His speed and closing burst on show. A "joker" type role looks to be best for him projecting him forward to the NFL.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/f0Fdw1mNXB
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) June 3, 2026
Simmons is not a one-dimensional rusher. He has a strong inside move. He’ll take a step as if he’s using his speed rush, but can then make a sudden inside move. This is quick and difficult to stop. When he loops inside on designed stunts, his speed makes him dangerous against slower interior offensive linemen.
While his speed-to-power move is not his best, Simmons will try to use it. There are flashes of it being effective.
Simmons does show he can set offensive tackles up for a different move later in the game. Once he establishes one move, he’ll do something else on the back of it to keep his man thinking and off balance.
Areas to Improve
At the top of his rush, when flattening and cornering to get to the quarterback, Simmons shows good knee bend. However, there is hip tightness evident, and at this stage of his rush, he can too easily be knocked off his spot and washed harmlessly up the field.
While the power element to his game is there in flashes and improved as the 2025 season progressed, it’s not yet a strong part of his game. His speed-to-power bull rush comes from low with good knee bend, and while the initial pop staggers offensive tackles, there’s not enough sustained power to finish.
Simmons also has a spin move. Generally, this move needs work as it doesn’t take him anywhere.
Simmons does flash initial hand use, but there are too many reps where there is little to no hand use. He also struggles to find a counter when his initial rush doesn’t work. Developing a “Plan B” is something that will come with experience, hopefully in 2026.
Colin Simmons rush vs the left tackle on this play – doesn't get any joy. A few too many of these rushes on his tape.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/6DwPE8DY7W
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) June 3, 2026
While his experience in coverage is a plus, he’s still developing his instincts. His aggression can be used against him. Certainly, a veteran NFL quarterback will be able to take advantage of this.
Against the run, when faced with bigger and stronger blockers, he can be controlled. At 6’3”, he can add a little bulk, but his lack of size will always be something that works against him.
While willingness to chase plays from the backside is all over his tape, this isn’t consistent. His motor is not always there, with some plays, effort being less than 100%.
Key Tests in 2026
The early part of the season sees a test every other week for Simmons. In Week two, they have the return game from last year’s big out-of-conference matchup, hosting Ohio State. In Week four, they’re at Tennessee, and in Week six, it’s the Red River Rivalry. The rest of the way it’s a typically tough SEC schedule, with tests including Florida, Ole Miss, at Missouri, at LSU, and finally, at Texas A&M. The complete schedule can be found here.
Colin Simmons Overall Summary
There are flashes of a top prospect with Simmons. His closing burst is, quite simply, elite. The rest of his pass rush game comes in flashes. If you grade those flashes, there’s a high pick on show.
However, the hip tightness when cornering is a concern. Experience should help him with his hand usage and developing a counter when his initial move doesn’t work.
His smoothness in coverage and ability to be used in a variety of roles are major pluses. A bright NFL defensive mind will be able to do a lot of exciting things with Simmons.
Colin Simmons Comparison to Dylan Stewart
Simmons has already drawn comparisons with the consensus top edge prospect in this class, Stwewart. Right now, they are slightly different prospects. Simmons has a wider skill set and projects well to a team that likes to move their pieces around.
Like Stewart, Simmons is not consistent. Whoever finds greater consistency in 2026 will likely be the higher pick.
Simmons’ hip tightness when cornering on his speed rush is a concern. However, if lined up across the formation and the focus is on his elite closing speed, this part of his game can be hidden.
Stewart’s speed and dip are superior to Simmons’, but South Carolina uses him in a vanilla way, meaning his skill set isn’t as diverse as the Texas man’s.
