Buy or sell: Colin Simmons wins the Ted Hendricks award for best edge rusher in the nation.
Colin Simmons, the 5-star edge rusher from Duncanville High School in Texas, is one of the most hyped and highly anticipated recruits in college football. With the Ted Hendricks Award, which is given annually to the nation’s best edge rusher, firmly in his sights, the debate of whether Simmons can live up to the lofty expectations and claim this prestigious honor has sparked a great deal of discussion. The Ted Hendricks Award has traditionally been awarded to players who have dominated as pass rushers—guys who can bend around the edge, make quarterbacks uncomfortable, and change the course of a game with their pressure. Given Simmons’s unique blend of athleticism, skill set, and raw talent, the question becomes: Can he rise to the top of this group and win the Ted Hendricks Award in his first few years in college football? In this discussion, we will take a deeper look at his potential and try to answer the question: Buy or Sell—Will Colin Simmons win the Ted Hendricks Award as the best edge rusher in the nation?
There’s no question that Colin Simmons has all the tools needed to be one of the most dominant pass rushers in college football. Standing at 6’3” and weighing in at around 230 pounds, Simmons already possesses a rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism. His physical gifts make him an immediate matchup nightmare for offensive tackles, and it’s easy to see why he’s earned comparisons to some of the top edge rushers to come through the high school ranks in recent memory. His burst off the line of scrimmage is explosive, and he has an innate ability to close on quarterbacks in a hurry, making him a major threat on every passing down.
One of the defining characteristics of Simmons’s game is his speed. He can explode off the ball in the blink of an eye, covering ground in ways that few edge rushers his age can. His quickness allows him to collapse the pocket from the outside, beating offensive tackles around the edge and forcing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket or make hurried throws. Additionally, Simmons’s first step is one of the quickest in the nation, and this makes him an immediate factor in every game he plays. Whether it’s against a power 5 school or an FCS opponent, Simmons’s speed is something that will give offensive linemen headaches from day one.
That level of speed is crucial in today’s game, where quarterbacks are typically quick on their feet and have the ability to escape the pocket. To be successful as an edge rusher in modern college football, a player must have the ability to get to the quarterback with speed and precision. Simmons has the kind of burst that allows him to do just that.
While athleticism plays a huge role in a pass rusher’s success, technique is equally important, and Simmons is already well-developed in this department. He shows impressive hand usage, using swipes, rips, and violent inside moves to disengage from blockers. These moves allow him to get around offensive linemen and penetrate into the backfield. Although he’s still fine-tuning his pass-rush repertoire, Simmons has all the tools to develop into a complete pass rusher who can attack from multiple angles and create confusion for opposing quarterbacks.
In high school, Simmons demonstrated an advanced understanding of pass rushing that many collegiate edge rushers don’t possess at that stage. His ability to combine power and finesse when attacking blockers allows him to shed would-be blockers quickly and set up a variety of moves to beat tackles. The fact that he is already so versatile in his approach makes him an extremely difficult player to block, and when he refines these techniques at the collegiate level, he will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with. As his pass rush moves become more polished, Simmons’s stock as a potential Ted Hendricks Award winner will only rise.
Simmons is not only a dangerous pass rusher but also a versatile athlete who can contribute in other ways. He possesses the agility to drop into coverage when needed, providing his future coaching staff with a unique ability to use him in different ways. While edge rushers are primarily known for their ability to rush the passer, Simmons can also line up off the ball and create mismatches in zone coverage or man-to-man situations, particularly when covering tight ends and running backs out of the backfield. This type of flexibility only enhances his value to a team, and it’s this kind of versatility that can help him stand out as one of the top edge rushers in the nation.
By being able to contribute in multiple ways on defense, Simmons could make himself indispensable to his college program, and that could make him a leading candidate for not only the Ted Hendricks Award but also a future top pick in the NFL Draft. When you add in his physical profile, athleticism, and ability to impact the game in different facets, you start to see just how dynamic of a player Simmons can be.
One of the most exciting aspects of Simmons’s recruitment is the opportunity he has to make an immediate impact. Depending on which school he commits to, Simmons could find himself playing for a program with an established defensive scheme that will allow him to contribute early. This is critical when discussing the Ted Hendricks Award, as winning the honor often requires a player to dominate in their first few seasons. If Simmons is able to get onto the field early and make an immediate impact as a true freshman or sophomore, he could quickly generate the kind of buzz that earns him serious consideration for the prestigious award.
Many top-tier programs, especially those in conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, or Big 12, demand elite pass-rushers for their defenses to function at a high level. As a player who is already capable of taking over a game and disrupting offenses, Simmons will likely get plenty of opportunities to showcase his talents early in his college career. With that said, if he can stay healthy, develop his technique, and find consistent playing time, there’s no reason why he couldn’t be a legitimate candidate for the Ted Hendricks Award during his freshman or sophomore season.
Another important element in Simmons’s favor is his mental approach to the game. Despite his age, he already demonstrates a level of maturity and focus that sets him apart from many of his peers. Whether it’s his ability to learn from coaches, his attention to detail, or his work ethic in the weight room, Simmons’s commitment to developing his body and mind shows that he is ready for the rigors of college football. That kind of maturity helps him develop quickly as a player and may enable him to take his game to a level where he can dominate at the highest level.
While the case for buying Colin Simmons as a Ted Hendricks Award winner is strong, there are still factors that make the possibility of him winning this prestigious honor less certain, especially in his first year or two of college football.
When discussing the Ted Hendricks Award, it’s impossible to overlook the depth of talent that Simmons will face in the college ranks. Year after year, college football is filled with talented edge rushers who can dominate at the highest level, and Simmons will be competing with a crop of seasoned veterans for the honor. Whether it’s players from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, or other top programs, Simmons will have to contend with some of the nation’s best pass rushers, many of whom have years of experience at the collegiate level.
Veteran players have the advantage of knowing the nuances of the college game, including how to adjust to different offensive lines, quarterbacks, and game situations. The transition from high school to college can be a steep learning curve, and while Simmons has the tools to succeed, it may take him a season or two to fully adjust to the speed and physicality of college football. With such fierce competition from established players, Simmons could face challenges in winning the Ted Hendricks Award early in his career.
Another factor to consider when assessing Simmons’s chances of winning the Ted Hendricks Award is the inherent injury risk that comes with playing as an edge rusher. Given that his position requires constant collisions with offensive linemen, quarterbacks, and ball carriers, the potential for injury is always present. Even a minor injury can sideline a player for an extended period of time, and a season-ending injury could derail a player’s chances of competing for individual awards like the Hendricks Award. While Simmons is undoubtedly a physical specimen, he is not immune to the risk of injury, and a setback could have a significant impact on his pursuit of the award.
Even the most gifted players often take some time to transition from high school to college football. Simmons will need to develop his technique and adjust to the speed of the game. The jump from high school to college is substantial, and many freshmen edge rushers struggle to have the immediate impact they expect. While Simmons has the tools to succeed, there is still a steep learning curve ahead of him. This adjustment period could make it difficult for him to be as effective as he needs to be to win the Ted Hendricks Award early in his career.:
Ultimately, the decision of whether to buy or sell Colin Simmons winning the Ted Hendricks Award depends on how you view the combination of his exceptional talent, his physical and mental development, and the potential roadblocks that lie ahead in his transition to the college game.
On one hand, the physical tools, speed, and raw talent that Simmons possesses give him an excellent foundation to build on. His ability to explode off the line, his hand usage, and his versatility make him a rare talent who could become a dominant force in the pass rush game. However, there are significant challenges ahead for Simmons, from competing with elite, experienced players to adjusting to the pace and intensity of college football.
While the road to the Ted Hendricks Award is by no means easy, Simmons has the potential to be one of the top edge rushers in the nation—and it would not be a surprise if he wins the award during his career. That being said, expecting him to win it right away may be a bit optimistic given the competition, the adjustment to college football, and the risks that come with playing the position. For now, the smart play would be to sell on Simmons winning the Ted Hendricks Award in his first couple of seasons, but don’t count him out long-term. By the time his college career is over, it would not be surprising if he’s hoisting the award as one of the top edge rushers in the nation.
