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Texas puts five players on the Pro Football Focus College 50

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook07/04/25josephcook89
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Nov 23, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Colin Simmons (11) celebrates after a quarterback sack against the Kentucky Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sara Diggins/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The Texas Longhorns saw five players make Pro Football Focus’ College 50, the outlet’s list of the top players in college football ahead of the 2025 season.

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Texas’ five were EDGE Colin Simmons, linebacker Anthony Hill, safety Michael Taaffe, cornerback Malik Muhammad, and quarterback Arch Manning. The five Longhorns on the list was tied for the most from a single school with Alabama.

Simmons was No. 8, Hill was No. 14, Taaffe was No. 26, Muhammad was No. 46, and Manning was No. 50.

Simmons was the No. 1 EDGE in the rankings. He logged 48 tackles with 14.0 for loss and a team leading 9.0 sacks in 2024. He was named a freshman All-American and the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year for his 2024. He was recently named a Walter Camp preseason All-American.

Hill was the No. 1 linebacker. Texas’ leading tackler in 2024, Hill recorded 113 tackles with a team high 16.5 tackles for loss plus 8.0 sacks. He notched one interception, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery on his way to multiple second-team All-American honors last year. He was also named a preseason All-American by Walter Camp.

Taaffe logged 78 tackles, 5.5 TFL, and 2.0 sacks last year along with two interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. A former walk-on, Taaffe earned AP second-team All-American honors for his 2024.

Muhammad posted 36 tackles with 1.0 for loss last year along with eight pass breakups at the field cornerback position.

Manning played in 10 games last year and started two: the contests versus ULM and Mississippi State. He was 61-for-90 for 939 yards and nine touchdowns over two interceptions. He also rushed for four touchdowns.

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Players from Texas’ schedule in the top 50 include…

1 Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith
2 Ohio State S Caleb Downs
11 Florida C Jake Slaughter
16 Texas A&M G Ar’maj Reed-Adams
19 Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers
29 Texas A&M LB Taurean York
35 Florida EDGE Tyreak Sapp
42 Georgia S KJ Bolden

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