Five Texas Longhorns Defenders Earn Preseason All-SEC First-Team Honors, Highlighting Rising Dominance and Depth on Elite Defensive Unit
With the 2025 college football season on the horizon, the Southeastern Conference has released its Preseason All-SEC Teams, and the Texas Longhorns made a massive statement. Five Texas defenders—Quintrevion Wisner, DJ Campbell, Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill Jr., and Michael Taaffe—were selected to the prestigious First-Team All-SEC list, underlining the Longhorns’ evolution into one of the most feared defensive units in the nation. As the program heads into its first full season of SEC play with championship aspirations, this recognition not only validates the Longhorns’ recruiting efforts and player development but also sends a strong message to the rest of the league: Texas is coming, and their defense might just be elite.
For years, Texas football has been known primarily for its offensive firepower and iconic quarterbacks, but that narrative is beginning to shift. The 2025 Longhorns may very well be defined by a swarming, hard-hitting, ultra-athletic defense built to withstand the rigors of SEC competition. That starts with the individual stars who were recognized this preseason.
Quintrevion Wisner, a rangy and physical linebacker, headlines the list. Entering his junior season, Wisner has emerged as the emotional leader and signal-caller of the defense. Known for his relentless motor and elite instincts, he racked up over 100 tackles last season and added 12 tackles for loss, solidifying his status as one of the best linebackers in college football. Wisner combines sideline-to-sideline speed with a high football IQ, allowing him to diagnose plays quickly and make splash plays in both the run and pass game. NFL scouts already have him on their radar as a potential Day 1 draft pick.
What sets Wisner apart is his versatility. He can play inside or outside linebacker, line up on the edge in pass-rushing situations, or drop into coverage against tight ends and running backs. In the modern SEC, where offenses spread the field and stress defenses with tempo and formations, having a do-it-all linebacker like Wisner is a massive advantage.
DJ Campbell, the standout safety, has made a name for himself as the enforcer on the back end of the Longhorns’ defense. At 6-foot and over 200 pounds, Campbell plays with a blend of power, intelligence, and fearlessness. He’s not just a run-stopper; he’s a tone-setter. His ability to read quarterbacks, close gaps quickly, and deliver bone-jarring hits makes him one of the most respected players in the conference.
Campbell’s improvement in coverage has elevated his game to a new level. Last season, he recorded four interceptions and broke up ten passes, showcasing ball-hawking tendencies that perfectly complement his physical style. Whether playing in the box or deep as a center-fielder, Campbell’s presence alters offensive game plans. His leadership in the secondary is also invaluable, especially for younger defensive backs learning the ropes in the SEC.
If there’s a player who might become a household name this season across the country, it’s Colin Simmons. The former five-star edge rusher from Duncanville, Texas, exploded onto the scene as a freshman and hasn’t looked back. His inclusion on the First-Team All-SEC list after just one year of college football is both impressive and well-deserved. Simmons finished last season with 11 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and countless pressures that disrupted opposing quarterbacks week after week.
His burst off the edge is elite—few tackles in college football can match his first step. But it’s not just speed that makes Simmons dangerous. He’s added muscle to his frame, improved his hand-fighting techniques, and studied film relentlessly to expand his pass-rush arsenal. In a league stacked with NFL-caliber offensive linemen, Simmons still manages to stand out as a disruptive force every time he takes the field.
Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has maximized Simmons’ abilities by moving him around the line, creating mismatches and unleashing him from various alignments. Simmons’ presence alone forces offenses to account for him on every snap, opening up opportunities for his teammates.
Anthony Hill Jr., another former five-star recruit, might be the most complete linebacker in the SEC. While Wisner is the motor of the defense, Hill is its muscle. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he brings a blend of size, speed, and violence that’s rare, even in the SEC. His ability to stack and shed blockers, attack gaps, and deliver punishing hits makes him an elite run defender.
But Hill isn’t just a thumper—he’s developed into an excellent pass rusher and coverage linebacker. In 2024, he posted 8.5 sacks and consistently made plays in space, defending tight ends and backs in coverage. His football instincts are off the charts, and his ability to diagnose and react in real time allows him to neutralize explosive plays before they happen.
The final piece of the Longhorns’ First-Team All-SEC contingent is Michael Taaffe, the cerebral and highly productive defensive back who has emerged as one of the most underrated stars in the country. A former walk-on turned team captain, Taaffe’s journey is a testament to grit, preparation, and football intelligence. Now a seasoned veteran, Taaffe is the glue that holds the secondary together.
His ability to play multiple positions in the secondary—cornerback, nickel, and safety—gives Texas incredible flexibility in coverage schemes. Taaffe’s instincts are impeccable; he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Last season, he recorded five interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. He’s the classic example of a player whose game isn’t built on measurables but on technique, film study, and anticipation.
Coaches rave about his leadership and communication skills, both of which are vital in a defense that operates with complexity and pace. Taaffe’s presence in the secondary ensures that everyone is aligned, calls are made correctly, and no assignments are missed.
Together, these five players represent the core of a defense that has the potential to be one of the best in college football. But more importantly, they symbolize a culture shift at Texas—a shift toward toughness, discipline, and accountability on the defensive side of the ball. In past years, the Longhorns often won shootouts but struggled to close out games with defensive stops. That’s no longer the case.
With elite talent at all three levels—defensive line, linebacker, and secondary—Texas now has the tools to go toe-to-toe with the most physical and explosive offenses in the SEC. And with Kwiatkowski calling the plays and head coach Steve Sarkisian fully embracing the complementary football philosophy, the defense is no longer playing catch-up. It’s setting the tone.
There’s also a strong pipeline behind these five stars. Texas has recruited incredibly well on defense over the last few cycles, bringing in blue-chip talent that’s pushing for playing time and creating iron-sharpens-iron competition in practice. Young stars like Malik Muhammad, T’Vondre Sweat Jr., and Terrance Brooks are waiting in the wings, eager to make their own impact.
The preseason honors are a reflection of what Texas has built—but they also serve as a warning to opponents. This is no longer the flashy, finesse-driven Texas team of old. This is a program that embraces defense, wins with violence in the trenches, and can impose its will on both sides of the ball.
For fans, the excitement is palpable. This kind of preseason recognition isn’t just about headlines; it’s about belief. Belief that Texas can not only compete in the SEC but contend. Belief that the road to Atlanta and the College Football Playoff doesn’t just run through quarterbacks and big plays—it runs through defensive dominance.
As the 2025 season begins, all eyes will be on this Texas defense to see if it can live up to the hype. And with Wisner, Campbell, Simmons, Hill, and Taaffe leading the way, don’t be surprised if this unit does more than just meet expectations—it might just exceed them and lead the Longhorns to their first SEC title and beyond.
