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Michael Taaffe named an AFCA first-team All-American, Anthony Hill and Colin Simmons also honored

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook3 hours agojosephcook89

Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe was named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association on Tuesday. The AFCA is one of five major All-America selectors and is the first to give Taaffe first-team honors. Colin Simmons and Anthony Hill Jr. were selected to the second team.

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Taaffe recently took home second-team honors from the AP. Last season, Taaffe was a second-team All-American according to the AP. He was recently honored with the Wuerffel Trophy and first-team All-SEC accolades.

Hill was an AFCA second-team All-American last season. He was recently named a second-team All-American by the AP. Hill was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2025.

This is Simmons’ first career All-America selection. Simmons was first-team All-SEC in 2025 and a Freshman All-American in 2024. He also took home the Shawn Alexander Freshman of the Year Award last season.

First-Team Offense

  • QB Fernando Mendoza, Idniana
  • RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
  • RB Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
  • WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
  • WR Makai Lemon, USC
  • WR Skyler Bell, UConn
  • TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
  • OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
  • OL Spencer Fano, Utah
  • C Carson Hinzman, Ohio State
  • OL Logan Jones, Iowa
  • OL Carter Smith, Indiana

First-Team Defense

  • DL David Bailey, Texas Tech
  • DL Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
  • DL Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
  • DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
  • LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
  • LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
  • LB Aiden Fisher, Indiana
  • DB Caleb Downs, Ohio State
  • DB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
  • DB Mansoor Delane, LSU
  • DB Michael Taaffe, Texas

First-Team Special Teams

  • PK Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii
  • P Cole Maynard, Western Kentucky
  • AP KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
  • LS Beau Gardner, Georgia

Second-Team Offense

  • QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State
  • RB Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
  • RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State
  • WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
  • WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
  • WR Danny Scudero, San Jose State
  • TE Michael Trigg, Baylor
  • OL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
  • OL Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
  • C Drew Bobo, Georgia
  • OL Luke Montgomery, Ohio State
  • OL Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame

Second-Team Defense

  • DL John Henry Daley, Utah
  • DL Caden Curry, Ohio State
  • DL Colin Simmons, Texas
  • DL R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
  • LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
  • LB CJ Allen, Georgia
  • LB Xavier Atkins, Auburn
  • DB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
  • DB Bishop Fitzgerald, USC
  • DB Hezekiah Masses, Cal
  • DB Bray Hubbard, Alabama

Second-Team Specialists

  • PK Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
  • P Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
  • AP Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
  • LS Garrison Grimes, BYU

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