Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

PFF Anoints 2 Texas Studs Best in the Nation at Their Positions

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sam Dunn | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 1:05 PM ET

The Texas Longhorns football program experienced a breakthrough season under head coach Steve Sarkisian in 2024, tying a school record with 13 wins and punching a historic ticket to the newly expanded College Football Playoff, falling to the eventual champion Ohio State Buckeyes in the national semifinal.

Running it back with a loaded roster, however, the expectations are naturally sky-high in Austin looking ahead to the fall -- and the top analytics minds in the game are as bullish about their chances as anyone.

Per the number-crunchers at Pro Football Focus, rising sophomore Colin Simmons is college football's No. 1 edge rusher returning to action in 2025, while third-year man Anthony Hill Jr. takes top honors among linebackers.

As PFF's Max Chadwick writes, Simmons belies his mere 19 years of age in beating out South Carolina's Dylan Stewart and Clemson Tigers All-ACC selection TJ Parker for this elite quantitative distinction.

The much-heralded 6-foot-3 Dallas native posted 48 total tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception on the way to claiming multiple national plaudits, including the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.

Hill, meanwhile, outclasses rising sophomore Taurean York of Texas A&M and All-SEC talent Whit Weeks of the LSU Tigers, according to PFF's linebacker gradeouts.

Equally adept rushing the quarterback or dropping into coverage, the former five-star stud out of Denton, Texas notched 113 total tackles, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and an interception on the way to claiming First Team All-SEC and All-America honors.

The Horns had already given fans plenty of reason to be over the moon about the possibilities this season; ESPN's post-spring power rankings placed them No. 3 in the nation behind only Penn State and Clemson.

Now, with an assist from PFF, Longhorn Nation can hit campus in August insisting loudly and proudly that the numbers simply do not lie.

Coach Sark and Texas open their 2025 college football campaign with a CFP rematch against reigning champs Ohio State on Aug. 30 in Columbus.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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