Football has national-best three Longhorns on Walter Camp Player of the Year watch record

By: Grace Tafolla

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football junior LB Anthony Hill Jr., sophomore QB Arch Manning and sophomore EDGE Colin Simmons have been named to the Walter Camp National Player of the Year preseason watch record, the Walter Camp Football Foundation introduced Monday. Texas leads the nation with three picks on this 12 months’s preseason watch record. 

The Walter Camp is the nation’s fourth-oldest particular person school soccer accolade and is introduced yearly to varsity soccer’s participant of the 12 months. It has been awarded to a Longhorn on three events (Ricky Williams, 1998; Colt McCoy, 2008-09). Texas has had back-to-back semifinalists for the award after former UT quarterback Quinn Ewers was named one in 2024. In 2023, former Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat was additionally chosen as a semifinalist for the award.

In addition to the Walter Camp National Player of the Year award watch record, Hill has been positioned on preseason watch lists for the Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Hill, a preseason First-Team All-SEC choice, 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 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.

Manning has additionally been placed on the preseason watch record for the Maxwell Award along with incomes a preseason All-SEC Third Team choice in a vote by the media. A 3rd-year participant who has appeared in 12 video games with two begins, Manning sports activities a 2-0 file as a starter throughout his time on the Forty Acres. As a redshirt freshman in 2024, Manning noticed motion in 10 video games with the 2 begins, finishing 61-of-91 passes (68 p.c) for 939 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was named the SEC’s Co-Freshman of the Week on Sept. 16, was positioned on the Davey O’Brien’s Great 8 record on Sept. 16, and named the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose National Player of the Week on Sept. 17. The New Orleans native additionally added 25 carries for 108 yards and 4 touchdowns. He entered the sport within the second quarter vs. UTSA for an injured Quinn Ewers and accomplished 9-of-12 passes (75 p.c) for 223 yards and 4 touchdowns. He accounted for 5 complete touchdowns in opposition to UTSA after recording a career-long 67-yard dashing landing. Making his first profession begin within the victory over ULM, he linked on 15-of-29 move makes an attempt for 258 yards and two scores. He guided Texas to its first-ever SEC win on Sept. 28, 2024, along with his efficiency in opposition to the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He went 26-for-31 (83.9 p.c) for 325 yards and two touchdowns, whereas working the ball six instances for 33 yards and a landing.

Simmons has additionally been named to the preseason watch record for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy along with incomes preseason First-Team All-SEC reward on protection. Simmons had a breakout 12 months 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 group 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 move break-ups. He led all FBS freshmen in complete sacks, whereas his 9 sacks have been the third-most by a freshman in program single-season historical past.

The 2025 Player of Year watch record can be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November, and three finalists can be introduced in early December. The 2025 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 133 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports activities info administrators, can be introduced on ESPN’s College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.

Texas opens the 2025 slate 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 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 remaining present for longtime ESPN persona Lee Corso as he’s set to retire following Week 1 of the 2025 season.