Football trio named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch checklist

By: Grace Tafolla

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football LB Anthony Hill Jr., EDGE Colin Simmons and DB Michael Taaffe had been named to the Bronko Nagurski preseason watch checklist, the Football Writers Association of America and Charlotte Touchdown Club introduced Tuesday morning. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is introduced yearly to nation’s prime defensive participant.

Hill has been chosen to the award’s watch checklist for the second-consecutive season whereas Simmons and Taaffe are each first-time picks. Texas’ three picks tie for the second-most with Alabama, Oregon and Clemson, whereas Georgia has 4 nominees. All three UT gamers beforehand landed on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch checklist on May 28 and acquired preseason First-Team All-SEC reward on protection on July 18.

Last season, former UT DB and 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron was one among 4 finalists for the Nagurski Trophy. Barron was Texas’ first Nagurski Trophy finalist since DT Malcolm Brown in 2014 whereas the Longhorns’ final winner was DE Brian Orakpo in 2008.

Hill began all 16 video games at linebacker final season, incomes second-team All-America honors by the AFCA, Associated Press, The Sporting News and Walter Camp. The Denton, Texas, product was tabbed a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Butkus awards in 2024. Hill led UT in tackles (103), tackles for loss (16.5), and compelled fumbles (4), whereas sitting third on the squad in sacks (8). He composed three double-digit tackling performances and was credited with 0.5-or-more tackles for loss in 11 totally different video games. Hill acquired nationwide reward following his standout efficiency in Texas’ 34-3 win over No. 18/16 Oklahoma within the Allstate Red River Rivalry on Oct. 12. He garnered Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 15), Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Oct. 16) and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week accolades (Oct. 14). Against the Sooners, Hill compiled 11 tackles (seven solo), two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, one pressured fumble and one stress in Texas’ win. Hill is a third-year participant who has appeared in 30 video games with 22 begins.

Simmons had a breakout yr in his first season on the Forty Acres, rising as a standout on an elite Texas protection and changing into the primary Longhorn to be chosen the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year because the award’s inception in 2018. Simmons appeared in all 16 video games, main the workforce with 9.0 sacks that totaled a lack of 64 yards and rating second in tackles for loss (14.0-73), quarterback hurries (9) and compelled fumbles (three). Simmons additionally compiled 48 complete tackles (31 solo), an interception and two cross break-ups. He led all FBS freshmen in complete sacks, whereas his 9 sacks had been the third-most by a freshman in program single-season historical past.

Taaffe returns to the UT protection after garnering second-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press in 2024. An Austin, Texas native and former walk-on, Taaffe began all 16 video games final season, rating second on the workforce in complete tackles (78), interceptions (2) and cross break-ups (10). He was the one Longhorn to report an interception and a pressured fumble in the identical recreation final season after doing so in Texas’ win at No. 25/25 Vanderbilt on Oct. 26, incomes the Burlsworth’s Trophy National Player of the Week and the SEC’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Taaffe pressured two turnovers to associate with six tackles and a cross break-up in opposition to the Commodores. In the CFP Quarterfinal on the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl vs. Arizona State, Taaffe logged a career-high 10 tackles (six solo) and two cross break-ups to assist ship Texas to its second-consecutive CFP semifinal. Taaffe is a fifth-year defensive again who has performed in 43 video games with 26 begins.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce 4 finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy in mid-to-late November, and the winner can be revealed on the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Charlotte, N.C.

Players could also be added or faraway from the watch checklist through the course of the season. As in earlier years, the FWAA will announce a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week every Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch checklist, every week’s honored participant can be added at the moment.

The Longhorns kick off the season on the street at Ohio State at 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Aug. 30, inside Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The recreation will broadcast as a part of FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, and ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast stay from the Ohio State University campus. College GameDay will air for 3 hours from 8-11 a.m. CT, hosted by Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Pat McAffee, Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit and different ESPN personalities. It would be the closing present for longtime ESPN character Lee Corso as he’s set to retire following Week 1 of the 2025 season.