No. 1 Football locations 4 on Lombardi Award watch record

By: Grace Tafolla

AUSTIN, Texas – No. 1 Texas Football’s DJ Campbell, Jack Endries, Anthony Hill Jr. and Colin Simmons had been named to the preseason watch record for the Lombardi Award, the Lombardi Award Committee introduced Tuesday. In reminiscence of coach Vince Lombardi, the Lombardi Award was established in 1970 and is introduced to excellent linemen who finest epitomize his values of management, braveness, efficiency, and self-discipline on and off the sphere.

Last season, former Longhorn left sort out Kelvin Banks Jr. took house the award along with the Outland Trophy. He turned the fourth Longhorn and first offensive lineman to win the celebrated award, changing into the primary recipient since defensive finish Brian Orakpo in 2008. Defensive tackles Tony Degrate (1984) and Kenneth Sims (1981) received it within the Eighties. Nine different Longhorns have been finalists, together with Justin Blalock (2006), Rodrique Wright (2005), Derrick Johnson (2004), Cory Redding (2002), Doug Dawson (1983), Steve McMichael (1979), Brad Shearer (1977), Bill Wyman (1973) and Jerry Sisemore (1972).

Texas’ 4 picks on the Lombardi Award preseason watch record tie Alabama and Clemson for essentially the most of any program this season.

Heading into his senior season in 2025, Campbell was additionally placed on the preseason watch record for the eightieth Outland Trophy and garnered preseason First-Team All-SEC reward on offense in July. A 6-foot-3 offensive guard from Arlington, Texas, Campbell has performed in 37 video games with 30 begins, together with beginning in all 16 video games in 2024. Last season, he was a part of an offensive line unit that was nabbed a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which fits to the nation’s most excellent offensive line unit. He was a key piece to a UT offensive line that protected for QB Quinn Ewers, who accomplished 293-of-445 passes (65.8 %) for 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns whereas averaging 248.0 yards per contest in 14 begins. Ewers completed sixth within the FBS in passing touchdowns (31), 14th in passing yards (3,472), 14th in factors chargeable for (202), twenty fifth in passing effectivity (149), twenty sixth in passing yards per sport (248.0), twenty sixth in completion share (65.8 %), and twenty seventh in completions per sport (20.93). He was part of a balanced Longhorn offense that averaged 278.8 passing yards (14th FBS), 158.8 speeding yards and 33 factors (twenty ninth FBS) per sport. He blocked for working backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner. Blue was drafted within the fifth spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, and Wisner is the SEC’s solely returning 1,000-yard rusher forward of the 2025 season. Wisner ran for 1,064 yards on the bottom in 2024.

Endries, a junior, additionally earned spots on the preseason watch lists for the John Mackey and Biletnikoff awards. He was a preseason Third-Team All-SEC choice in July.

Endries has joined the Longhorns after enjoying two seasons at Cal the place he began all 26 video games of these years. He led the Golden Bears with 623 receiving yards on 56 receptions (11.13 ypc) as a redshirt sophomore in 2024. Endries earned All-ACC Honorable Mention after rating third amongst all ACC tight ends in receiving yards, averaging 47.9 receiving yards per sport. He additionally snagged two landing receptions and recorded a pair of 100-yard receiving efforts in 2024. The Danville, Calif. product paced Cal with three receptions for 78 yards, together with a career-long 57-yard landing reception, vs. No. 8 Miami on Oct. 5, 2024. Endries adopted with one other stellar efficiency at No. 22 Pitt on Oct. 12, pulling in eight catches for a career-high 119 receiving yards and a rating. Endries recorded his second 100-yard receiving efficiency in as many video games after snaring a career-high 9 receptions for 101 yards vs. NC State on Oct. 19. Endries concluded the 2024 marketing campaign with seven receptions for 61 yards in opposition to UNLV within the Art of LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk on Dec. 18.

As a freshman in 2023, he earned first-team (College Football Network), second-team (The Athletic) and honorable point out (College Football News) Freshman All-America honors after registering 35 receptions for 407 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 31.3 yards per sport. Endries was Cal’s nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy in 2023, which is awarded yearly to essentially the most excellent FBS participant who started his profession as a walk-on. In two seasons at Cal, Endries has performed in 26 video games and has manufactured 91 receptions for 1,030 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. His 1,030 receiving yards over the earlier two seasons are essentially the most by any returning Power Four tight finish.

Hill, a junior, has additionally been positioned on preseason watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award, Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Hill, a preseason First-Team All-SEC choice, began all 16 video games at linebacker as a sophomore in 2024, 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 completely 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 has additionally been named to the preseason watch record for the Chuck Bednarik Award, Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy along with incomes preseason First-Team All-SEC reward. 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 for the reason that award’s inception in 2018. Simmons appeared in all 16 video games, main the crew 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 go 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.

Texas opens the 2025 season on the street at No. 2 Ohio State at 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Aug. 30, inside Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The sport will broadcast as a part of FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, and ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast reside 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 last present for longtime ESPN persona Lee Corso as he’s set to retire following Week 1 of the 2025 season.