Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a 47-yard touchdown pass in front of Ohio Bobcats cornerback Michael Mack II (9) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. Ohio State won 37-9.
Colin Simmons LB/EDGE Texas |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #1 PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.58 seconds (83%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #1 | |
| PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.58 seconds (83%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
91.3 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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73% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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77% |
| Pass Rush: |
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98% |
| Run Defense: |
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79% |
| Coverage: |
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63% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Top 5
Overall Rank:
#2
Position rank:
#1 (LB)
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| College Games: 34 College Snaps: 1315 | ||
ESPN RATING: 90/100
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247 RATING: 98/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chris Braswell - Alabama |
|
82% |
| Dallas Turner - Alabama |
|
76% |
| Derick Hall - Auburn |
|
71% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Colin Simmons arrived at Texas as one of the top edge rushers in the 2024 class after two state championships at Duncanville. He had 22.5 sacks and made 33 tackles for loss as a junior, then had 52 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior, when he was the state title game's defensive MVP. Rivals ranked him the No. 1 edge rusher in the country, and he chose Texas over LSU.As a freshman he led Texas with nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 16 games and became the first Longhorn to win the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year award. In 2025 he started all 13 games, led the SEC in sacks and earned second-team All-America honors, with 2.5 sacks against Oklahoma, three at Kentucky and a sack when Texas beat Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
Simmons sacked the quarterback against Ohio State and UTSA in 2026, leaving the UTSA game with a precautionary boot on his right foot, then set a Texas single-game sack record in the 20-17 win at Tennessee. That afternoon also brought an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for an obscene celebration, and Steve Sarkisian pulled him briefly. He added two sacks and a forced fumble against Oklahoma and was leading the country in both sacks and tackles for loss when he suffered a high ankle sprain early in the fourth quarter against Florida on 17 October. The MRI showed no structural damage, but he missed the Ole Miss game and did not play against Mississippi State.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Top-of-class get-off and bend, flattening to the quarterback from wide alignments
- Set a Texas single-game sack record in the September win at Tennessee
- Led the country in both sacks and tackles for loss before his October injury
- Converts speed to power when tackles overset to his outside shoulder
- Anchors the edge on early downs, with 20 stops in six games
- Turns pressure into takeaways, with eight forced fumbles across three seasons
- Freshman of the Year in 2024 and a second-team All-American in 2025
- Produced in big games, with two sacks and a strip against Oklahoma
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- High ankle sprain against Florida has cost him the last two games
- Penalties remain an issue, with nine in 2025 and a celebration flag at Tennessee
- Frame can be tested by bigger tackles when he is reduced inside
Scouting Report: Summary
Simmons is the cleanest pass-rush evaluation in this class, a bend-and-burst edge whose production has matched the tape for three straight years. He wins the corner before tackles can settle and converts speed to power when they overset, and he has done it against good teams: 2.5 sacks against Oklahoma and three at Kentucky in 2025, two sacks and a forced fumble against Oklahoma this fall, and a school record at Tennessee. When he went down against Florida he was the national leader in both categories that matter most for an edge rusher.He is also more than a pass-rush specialist. His 59 pressures in 2025 were among the most in the country, he has added 26 more in six games this season, and he anchors the edge on early downs and chases plays down from the back side. He turns rush wins into takeaways, with eight forced fumbles across his first three seasons, and he has been a three-down player since his first college game, which is rare for an edge rusher this young.
However, there is a list for teams to work through. The high ankle sprain against Florida has kept him out of two games, and with an MRI that showed no structural damage it reads as a medical note rather than a long-term concern, but the recovery timeline matters. He drew nine penalties in 2025, and the obscene celebration at Tennessee earned a flag and a brief benching from Steve Sarkisian. He can also be tested by bigger tackles when he is reduced inside, so he fits best on the edge, where his speed is the weapon.
Overall, Simmons is a three-down edge whose pass rush leads this class and who holds up against the run, the kind of player a front is built around. He projects as a top-of-the-draft selection and an immediate starter who can become a perennial double-digit sack producer.
Update - 11/03/2026
Simmons suffered a high-ankle sprain against Florida on 17 October and was carted off early in the fourth quarter. The MRI showed no structural damage. He missed the Ole Miss game and is week-to-week, with reports putting the recovery at three to four weeks. He leads the nation with 10.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in six games.
How other scouting services rate Colin Simmons (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
4.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
1.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.