The No. 7 Texas Longhorns might’ve just lost one of the most dominant defenders in college football, and it went down ugly. Early in the fourth quarter of their dogfight against the Florida Gators, star defensive end Colin Simmons went down on the field grabbing his knee after a play, and it was clear from the jump this wasn’t good. He needed trainers to help him off the field, walking gingerly and favoring that lower leg, before getting carted back to the locker room. You just hate to see it.
What Went Down On The Field
This whole scary situation unfolded during a Florida offensive drive in the fourth quarter. Simmons, a beast on the defensive line, took on a double-team block and was immediately seen grabbing at his lower leg. He stayed down for a few seconds as trainers rushed over, then had to be assisted to the sideline. He walked off, but it was obvious he was in pain, putting no real weight on that leg. The team wasn’t taking any chances; shortly after he left the field, Simmons was on a cart heading straight for the Texas locker room. Every single college football fan, and probably a few NFL scouts, felt that gut punch when they saw him getting carted away.
The Kind Of Talent We’re Talking About
This isn’t just any injury to just any player. Simmons, only a junior, is absolutely one of the most dominant defensive ends in the entire nation. Coming into this Florida game, he was leading the FBS with an insane 9.5 sacks through just five games. Think about that for a second. Across his three seasons with the Longhorns, this dude has put up 108 total tackles, 30.5 sacks, forced eight fumbles, and even snagged an interception. Those numbers don’t lie, he’s a game-wrecker.
It’s no surprise that he’s expected to be a massive name in the 2027 NFL Draft. TSN’s Vinnie Iyer had him projected to go No. 5 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his latest mock draft. That’s top-five pick talent, folks.
All eyes are now on Texas for an official update. An injury like this, especially to a player expected to go so high in the draft, could dramatically reshape not just the Longhorns’ season but the top of the 2027 NFL Draft board. Let’s hope for the best for Simmons.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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