Colin Simmons on 2026 Season Goals, Young Players Impressing & More! | Texas Football

Summary

On Texas Football — “Colin Simmons on 2026 Season Goals, Young Players Impressing & More!”

Host: Bobby Burton
Guest: Colin Simmons (Texas Longhorns Football)
Date: July 23, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode of On Texas Football centers around a media session with Texas Longhorns standout Colin Simmons ahead of the 2026 season. Simmons discusses his personal and team goals, the impact of new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, the importance of leadership, standout teammates, the Texas-A&M rivalry, community causes, and his experience representing Texas at Media Days. The conversation ranges from football strategy and rivalries to lighter moments about video games and suit fashion.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Season Goals: Team First

[00:08]

• Colin stresses his focus on the team's success rather than individual accolades.
  • Quote:
    “Honestly, my individual goals are the team goals. It's the team success. You know, winning, winning a national championship, you know, making the playoffs, everything that comes with it.” — Colin Simmons [00:17]

2. Teammate Scouting: Keelan Russell

[00:39]

• Praises Keelan Russell as a quarterback: tall, smart, athletic, and a strong leader.
  • Quote:
    “Keelan scouting report. Tall as hell. Great quarterback, knows how to read defenses. Got good feet. Got an arm on him. Smart, intelligent. Great person, great person to connect with.” — Colin Simmons [00:39]
  • Adds, keeping the pressure on Russell is vital during competition.

3. Defensive Competitiveness & Coach Muschamp’s Influence

[01:26], [02:07]

• Emphasizes that defense is a collective effort—Muschamp seen as a “great asset.”
  • Quote:
    “Truthfully, it's not just me. It's got to be the whole team. And I feel like Coach Muschamp is a ... great asset to this defense. And you know, I ... know that he'll help us in the long run.” — Colin Simmons [01:26]
• On Muschamp’s aggressive style raising the unit’s ceiling:
  • Quote:
    “Champ definitely brought in all of ours mindset, you know, when it comes to defense, when it comes to the play style that we play, the aggressiveness... I'm happy to be part of this defense and I'm happy to be coached under him.” — Colin Simmons [02:07]

4. Relationship-Building with Coach Muschamp

[02:45]

• Describes Muschamp as a “player’s coach” who encourages authenticity and fun.
  • Quote:
    “I came in his office ... we talked, chopped it up ... he just told me just to be myself, be yourself, be you. Go out there, have fun, don't press yourself.” — Colin Simmons [02:45]

5. On Texas-A&M Rivalry

[03:23]

• Frames the game as crucial for fans, culture, and respects the Aggies’ competitiveness.
  • Quote:
    “It's a good rivalry. It's very big for our culture and our fans. Texas A and M have a great team. Every year ... it's a huge rivalry.” — Colin Simmons [03:23]

6. Teammates’ Causes & Leadership

[03:53], [04:50]

• Gained new perspective from Trevor’s heart health advocacy.
  • Quote:
    “When he told us in coaching Wednesdays ... made me look at things even differently.” — Colin Simmons [03:53]
• Shares philosophy of leadership: encourages teammates to be authentic and true to themselves.
  • Quote:
    “Just being myself. Showing my teammates that they could just be their selves ... as long as you stay true to yourself, cannot move you.” — Colin Simmons [04:50]

7. Locker Room & Media Day Vibes

[05:17]

• Playfully claims “best-dressed” title at Media Days; jokes about being Arch Manning’s “bodyguard.”
  • Quote:
    “I'm not gonna lie. I done had a plethora of compliments on my fit, so I'm gonna take that award home with me. But nah, me and Trevor showed up in gray. We're obviously Arch's bodyguards.” — Colin Simmons [05:17]

8. Home-Field Experience at DKR

[05:56]

• Feels no nerves playing at home, credits the supportive fanbase.
  • Quote:
    “DKR. No, it’s home. It’s home. Our fans are welcoming. They love us ... It ain’t no reason to get nervous in DKR.” — Colin Simmons [05:56]

9. NIL & Memorabilia

[06:44]

• Surprised by the passion and turnout at autograph events; doesn’t know the highest price for his trading cards.
  • Quote:
    “When I went to car signing ... the whole hotel building was packed out ... I didn't know it get that crazy, but that day I learned. So. 700. That's some money.” — Colin Simmons [06:44]

10. Representing Texas & Family

[07:25]

• Compares representing the Longhorns to representing his family:
  • Quote:
    “Representing the Longhorns is like representing the name on your back ... You gotta represent with pride because ... that's your family.” — Colin Simmons [07:25]

11. NCAA Football Video Game Experience

[07:57]

• Enjoyed being on the cover and playing as himself—amused that his virtual self is so fast.
  • Quote:
    “Huge shout out to EA Sports for allowing me to be on the COVID of the game ... My player's OD code on that ... very blessed and grateful.” — Colin Simmons [07:57]

12. Favorite Game on the Schedule & Season Outlook

[09:02]

• Though he’s excited for the Death Valley matchup against LSU (a former recruitment favorite), insists every game is approached with equal focus.
  • Quote:
    “Obviously, in my recruiting, I love LSU and Death Valley ... But truthfully, every game we come with the same mindset, the same mentality. You know, we ain't taking no game lightly.” — Colin Simmons [09:02]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “My individual goals are the team goals. It's the team success.” — Colin Simmons [00:17]
• “Just being myself. Showing my teammates that they could just be their selves ... as long as you stay true to yourself, cannot move you.” — Colin Simmons [04:50]
• On the DKR atmosphere: “It’s home. Our fans are welcoming. They love us. ... It ain't no reason to get nervous in DKR.” — Colin Simmons [05:56]
• When asked about his trading card fame: “The whole hotel building was packed out ... I didn't know it get that crazy, but that day I learned.” — Colin Simmons [06:44]
• On being in a video game: “My player's OD code on that ... very blessed and grateful.” — Colin Simmons [07:57]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:08 — Season goals & team success
• 00:39 — Scouting Keelan Russell
• 01:26 — Keeping defensive competitiveness
• 02:07 — Coach Muschamp’s influence
• 02:45 — Building a relationship with Muschamp
• 03:23 — On the Texas-A&M rivalry
• 03:53 — Trevor’s heart story & leadership off the field
• 04:50 — Leadership and authenticity in the locker room
• 05:17 — Media Day fashion fun
• 05:56 — Playing at DKR, home field feeling
• 06:44 — Trading cards and memorabilia
• 07:25 — Representing Texas
• 07:57 — NCAA football video game experience
• 09:02 — Most anticipated matchup and game-by-game mentality

---

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The conversation carries a candid and upbeat tone, blending football insight with lighthearted banter. Simmons emerges as a team-first leader who values authenticity, relishes the Longhorns’ traditions, and clearly enjoys both the serious and fun aspects of college football life.

---

For Texas fans and college football followers, this discussion offers an authentic glimpse into the 2026 Longhorns locker room and the character of one of its emerging stars.

Transcript

[Leo Haggarty]

Leo Haggarty, AMP Club Sports Draft nation here in Tampa. Welcome to Florida.

[Colin]

Yes, sir. It's nice to be here.

[Leo Haggarty]

Obviously, team goals are at the top of your list, but what individual goals do you feel you have to meet so those team goals are successful?

[Colin]

Honestly, my individual goals are the team goals. It's the team success. You know, winning, winning a national championship, you know, making the playoffs, everything that comes with it.

[Moderator]

Left side standing up.

[A.P. Reporter]

Hey, Colin. Right here, to your left. Standing right here. A.P. stead of A.P. as we see it. Colin, would you give us a scouting report on Keelan Russell?

[Colin]

On Keelan Russell. Oh, that's my dog. Keelan scouting report. Tall as hell. Great quarterback, knows how to read defenses. Got good feet. Got an arm on him. Smart, intelligent. Great person, Great person to connect with. He probably got a great connection with his teammates and his wide receivers. Man, just keep the pressure on him. Keep the pressure on him. Yeah.

[Moderator]

Third row in the end.

[Abby Miller]

Abby Miller with the reflector from Mississippi State. Texas's defense was ranked sixth in the SEC last year. How can you personally help keep this competitiveness?

[Colin]

Truthfully, it's not just me. It's got to be the whole team. And I feel like Coach Muschamp is a, is a great asset to this, to this defense. And you know, I, I hope, well, I know that he'll help us in the long run.

[Moderator]

Third row and then pass it to your right, please.

[Jeff Howe]

Jeff Howe on Texas football. Colin Sark was in here a little bit ago and when he's talked about in the coach must champ, he's talked about aggressiveness, that attacking style of defense. After you went through the whole spring and, and what you've done this summer for you specifically, do you feel like Coach Muschamp with the scheme and the mindset that he's brought to the table, that there's another level your game can get to that maybe we haven't seen yet or maybe that you. You maybe haven't thought you could get to.

[Colin]

Yes, sir, much. Champ definitely brought in all of ours mindset, you know, when it comes to defense, when it comes to the play style that we play, the aggressiveness, how he, how he carry himself and how he come about the game of football, man, I ain't going to lie. I'm happy to be a part of this defense and I'm happy to be coached under him.

[Moderator]

Front row, please.

[Colin Court Samuels]

Colin Court Samuels of Inside Texas. There's a lot of talk about Coach Muschamp and developing relationships off the field with his players, and that's why he's able to ask so much of you guys on the field. Can you speak a little bit about the early relationship that you built with Coach Muschamp?

[Colin]

I came in his. I came in his office. I came in his office, probably first, second week, sat there, we talked, chopped it up. You know, obviously I asked him, is there anything, you know, more that I can do to, you know, better myself or better the defense? And, you know, he just told me just to be myself, be myself, be you. Go out there, have fun, don't press yourself. And I just. I feel like Mus Chop is a player's coach.

[Moderator]

Third row on the end.

[Abby Miller]

K N Egli, Texas. Can you speak a little bit to the rivalry with Texas A and M, then? If you have any personal relationship with any Aggie players?

[Colin]

It's a good rivalry. It's very big for our culture and our fans. Texas A and M have a great team. Every year. Every year I played them, they done had a great team. And so it's a big. It's a huge rivalry.

[Moderator]

And yeah, front row and then pass it to your right.

[Reporter about Trevor]

Colin, you see Trevor here rocking his every 15 minutes. Pen supporting heart, health. What does it mean just to see your teammate advocating for something that he cares about and experience himself with his own open heart surgery?

[Colin]

Honestly, it means a lot because Trevor just told me his story not too long ago, and it kind of opened my. My eyes up, you know, because I really didn't know that. I did not know that. And so when he told me, when he told the. When he told us in coaching Wednesdays, it just. It made me. Kind of made me look at things even differently. You know what I mean? In another aspect,

[Interviewer]

Trevor.

[A.P. Reporter]

Excuse me.

[Interviewer]

Trevor Collins, congratulations on being the Longhorn candidate for their good, good works. They all say good works award. That's pretty awesome. We were talking with Sam Acho this morning on the show, and I know you have your autism cause, which is great. Talk about your leadership, though, with that, your own. Your own foundation, but then the leadership on the field and automatically off the field, because Sam was talking about that and coaches talked about that. You, we saw you in the Citrus bowl, really rallying the team on the sidelines. How about your. Everybody knows you're talented coming in. Where has your leadership grown on that side of the ball and within the entire locker room?

[Colin]

Just being myself. Being myself. Showing my teammates that they could just be their selves, you know, they don't have to change. They don't have to impress nobody. You know, people are going to have opinions regardless of what it is, good or bad. But at the end of the day, as long as you stay true to yourself, cannot move you.

[Moderator]

Right side, third row.

[Abby Miller]

Out of you, Trevor and Arch, who do you think is the. Has the best outfit today at Media Days?

[Colin]

I'm not gonna lie. I done had a plethora of compliments on my fit, so I'm gonna take that award home with me. But nah, me and Trevor showed up in gray. We're obviously Arch's bodyguards.

[Moderator]

So

[Leo Haggarty]

second row, let's fast forward. September, Austin. It's hot. You're at Memorial Stadium. Bevo's ready to run. On the field, everybody's yelling, hook them horns, you're in the tunnel. You still get goosebumps.

[Colin]

And dkr. No, it's. It's home. It's home. Our fans are welcoming. They love us. It ain't no. It ain't no reason to get nervous in dkr, you know, It's not. It's. It's not. It's no reason. Because if we make a mistake and move on to the next play, our fans still gonna love us. Until they don't. But. But they still gonna love us. And I just feel like we got a great fan base, a great alumni, and.

[Moderator]

Yeah, third row.

[Jeff Howe]

Yeah. Colin, I know. I know you've signed some trading cards for Panini and Tops over the last year. I think you did an autograph show this summer, too. What's it been like for you to get connected to kind of that hobby, collecting memorabilia world? And do you know the highest sales price for one of your cards?

[Colin]

I don't know the highest sales price for one of my cars, but I do know how them cars get. And my. When we went to. When I went to car signing, and I think it's like the Dallas show show card, something like that. Showcase or something like that. It was packed out. Like, gym was packed out. The whole hotel building was packed out from the inside and the outside. I didn't know it get that crazy, but that day I learned. So. 700. That's some money.

[Moderator]

Fourth row.

[Abby Miller]

Ellie Malika, Sec. Being from Texas, how does it feel to represent the Longhorns at Media Day? You especially as you grow as an emerging leader,

[Colin]

representing the Long Corns is like representing the name on your back. You know, you gotta represent with pride because at the end of the day, that's your family and you represent your family. Just like I represent my mom, I gotta represent the Long Corns.

[Moderator]

Final questions here on the front row, and then we'll Go here on the front row.

[Reporter about Trevor]

Yeah, I know you were part of the NCAA video game shoot. What was that like for you? And how have you played with your crate, with your player? I guess. And do you think it's up to the standard that you would like to be on the game?

[Colin]

Huge shout out to EA Sports for allowing me to be on the COVID of the game, allowing me to be a part of that. It was a very fun experience. A great, great experience. I played Cam Coleman my first game on the game. He caught a pick six for my player, ran it back for a touchdown. I didn't know my dude was that fast. He got like a 90 plus speed on there, and so I didn't know he was that, that quick and that fast. And he's sitting here dropping my player into coverage and I'm like, what you doing? Whole time I threw him a pick and he ran it back. So that's, that was, that was a fun moment. My players OD code on that, on that game. So I'm very blessed and grateful.

[Moderator]

Final question here in the front, Colin.

[Colin Court Samuels]

The schedule is difficult this year. There's a lot of fun competition on it, man. Ohio State, obviously, they've got Texas twice. You know, you've been around. Oklahoma is Oklahoma. That game's very special. I know that. You see that A and M rivalry. You have trips to Nayland Stadium in Tennessee, go to Death Valley. Is there one particular game that you kind of just makes you feel a little different way when you're looking at that schedule?

[Colin]

Obviously. Obviously. I, in my recruiting, I love LSU and Death Valley. That's one team that I want. That's one school that I did want to go to. But truthfully, every game we come with the same mindset, the same mentality. You know, we ain't taking no game lightly, no matter if it's Ohio State or Texas State or no matter if it's LSU or, you know, whoever we play. So I feel like every game we're going in with this, with the same preparation, the same mindset.

[Narrator]

Let's begin by placing a piece of gum in your mouth. Now chew. You're in a beautiful meadow. You consider frolicking. You've never considered frolicking before in your life or even said the word frolic. Chew. You give it a try anyway. Chew. Frolic. Frolic. Chew. Chew. Frolic. Chewing while frolicking is good for your thing. Now extra gum. Chew. Good.