story link
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas football true freshman EDGE Colin Simmons has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Sean Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Thursday. Simmons is the first recipient of the award in the program’s seven-year history.
“We are excited to welcome (Colin) as the seventh annual Shaun Alexander Rookie of the Year recipient,” Alexander said. “This is the closest race in the history of this award and we know we have chosen a great winner. Colin is the perfect representative of the Shaun Alexander FPOY Award. Great talent, great personality, He is a great ambassador for the University of Texas and we believe he is a legend and a future superstar in the NFL.”
“When I found out, I was so excited. I was so excited that I couldn’t even make out what Alexander was saying and had to rush to show it to his mother who called me,” Simmons said. Ta. “It’s an honor and I’m so grateful. I’d like to thank my teammates and coaches for helping me get to the position I’m in and allowing me to develop to the best of my ability. I would like to thank Sean Alexander for giving me the opportunity to be a finalist for this award, knowing that the other finalists are great athletes from all over the country. , and most importantly, I want to thank God for my family.
“I pulled up to my aunt’s house on Christmas Day and she called me and said, ‘You know what it means to call on Christmas Day.’ I thought we were talking and he told me I won because he was talking to all the finalists and it meant so much that he took the time to get to know us outside of the uniform. It’s because he cares so much about me. I’m so grateful that you took the time to build a relationship.The fact that I won this award, I still have things to work on, things to improve on, and I still have to improve every day. No.”
The Dallas native was also named to the SEC All-Freshman team on Dec. 12.
In his first season with the Forty Acres, Simmons quickly became a catalyst for the Texas defense. The Longhorns boast one of the most elite and dominant defenses in the nation in 2024. Texas leads the FBS in turnovers gained (29) and pass interceptions (20). Additionally, UT ranks second in the FBS in scoring defense (13.3 ppg), team pass efficiency defense (100.38) and passing yards allowed (156.9). Texas ranks third in the FBS in total defense (261.1), fifth in third-down conversion rate defense (30.2), sixth in red zone defense (71) and 10th in rushing defense (104.2). UT closed out the regular season by shutting out its opponents in the first half in three of its past four games (all were conference opponents). The Horns finished the regular season allowing just four passing touchdowns, tied for the fewest in the FBS with Ohio State.
During the season, Simmons played in all 14 games and led the team in sacks (8.0-60) and was second in tackles for loss (12.5), quarterback tackles (9) and forced fumbles (3). is ranked. The Dallas native leads all FBS freshmen in total sacks and ranks second in sacks per game (0.57). His eight sacks are the third-most by a Texas freshman in program single-season history.
On September 7, in Texas’ 31-12 road win at Michigan on Oct. 9, Simmons had a solo sack for a 2-yard loss and a quarterback rush. He followed up his performance against the Wolverines with six tackles (four solo), including two tackles for a loss of eight yards, one sack for a loss of seven yards and a quarterback rush. In the SEC opener against Mississippi State on September 28, in a 35-13 decision, Simmons had a season-high seven tackles (six solo) and three tackles for 15 yards. He recorded two sacks for a loss of 14 yards. yards and forced fumbles. Simmons had five tackles (two solo) in a 34-3 win over No. 18/16 Oklahoma on Oct. 12, including 1.5 tackles for a loss of four yards. The Horns showed an overwhelming performance with a score of 20-10. In a road win at Arkansas on Nov. 16, he had three stops, including two sacks for a loss of 18 yards. He was also outstanding in the home regular season finale against Kentucky on Nov. 23, recording two tackles for a loss of 10 yards, including a sack for a loss of 8 yards. He had one forced fumble and two quarterback hurries. Simmons had five tackles (four solo) in Texas’ 17-7 road win at No. 20/19/20 Texas A&M. In the SEC Championship game against Georgia on December 7, Simmons recorded one sack for a loss of 11 yards, a forced fumble, and two solo tackles, including a quarterback rush. Simmons helped Texas defeat No. 16 and No. 12 Clemson, 38-24, in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 21. Simmons finished with one tackle, including 0.5 tackles for a loss of 1 yard, setting a personal record. First interception of his career following a quarterback rush. Simmons became the 12th Longhorn to record an interception this season when he picked off Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik with 5:55 left in the second quarter. The interception gave Texas 22 consecutive games with a takeaway, tying the longest active streak in the FBS.
Next, the Longhorns will head to Atlanta for the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the 57th annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Texas will play No. 4 seed Arizona State on Wednesday, Jan. 1 at noon in Connecticut. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, with call-in appearances by Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Katie George (reporter). .
