Muschamp Factor: Longhorns star EDGE Colin Simmons raves over new DC

Colin Simmons loves his new boss. The All-American junior is possibly in his final year as a Texas Longhorn. Normally, players don’t like to switch coordinators during their draft year, but Simmons says the return of Will Muschamp is a blessing.

Muschamp, who served as Mack Brown’s defensive coordinator in Austin 15 years ago, was hired by Texas coach Steve Sarkisian to replace fired DC Pete Kwiatkowski. Muschamp, who since his departure from Austin has been the head coach at Florida and South Carolina, brings an aggressive style of coaching and defense to the Forty Acres.

When asked what will make the Texas defense special this season, Simmons had a quick answer.

“Our defensive coordinator,” Simmons said after practice on Thursday.

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Followed this up by asking Colin to describe the tone that Muschamp sets… https://t.co/Fi76aEFwVOpic.twitter.com/bcTH0mOOmT

— Anne-Parker (Coleman) Clifton (@anneparkercole1) August 20, 2026

The 6-foot-3, 246-pound EDGE says Muschamp’s tone is one of a kind.

“This is my first year seeing this type of tone,” Simmons said. “Aggressive. You’re gonna be on your feet. There will be ten toes down on your feet. Muschamp is gonna make sure you know what you got before you leave that meeting. You’ve gotta come ready to practice each and every day.”

While Texas’ defense was good under Kwiatkowski, the hope is Muschamp can take the deep defensive talent on the Longhorns roster and make it elite.

Muschamp’s defenses during his first stint at Texas were some of the best in the country and helped the Longhorns reach the national championship game in 2009. The plan was for Brown to retire and Muschamp take over soon after the national title game. But when Brown indicated he would continue coaching at Texas, Muschamp left to become the head coach for the Florida Gators.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Muschamp Factor: Longhorns star EDGE Colin Simmons raves over new DC