Via Press Release, UT Athletics
Texas Football EDGE Colin Simmons and wide receiver Ryan Wingo have been named to the preseason watch list for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Wednesday. Presented annually to the most outstanding freshman in college football, a total of 37 candidates were recognized on the preseason list.
Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was named a semifinalist in 2023, and offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. was selected as a semifinalist in 2022, while former wide receiver Xavier Worthy was tabbed a finalist for the award in 2021.
A Dallas native, Simmons was an All-America, two-time all-state, and three-time all-district honoree and a member of a two-time state championship team at Duncanville High School. Simmons was selected to play in the 2024 Under Armour All-American Game and 2024 Polynesian Bowl. He was a consensus top-10 recruit nationally and No. 2 in the state of Texas. He compiled 52 total tackles, 21 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks as a senior in 2023. He anchored a defense that allowed just 13.4 points per game, including three consecutive shutouts and four total. Simmons claimed Defensive MVP honors in the state championship game for the second-straight year in 2023 after posting eight solo tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble in the title game against North Shore.
In Texas’ Spring Game, Wingo hauled in four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Wingo was an All-America and two-time all-state honoree at St. Louis University High School. A St. Louis product, Wingo was selected to participate in the 2024 All-American Bowl. He was ranked No. 5 nationally, No. 2 among wide receivers and No. 2 overall in the state of Missouri by 247Sports. He finished his high school career with 129 receptions, 2,160 receiving yards and 31 receiving touchdowns. As a senior, Wingo recorded 46 catches for 569 yards and seven touchdowns in just seven games after missing five due to an injury.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award has been presented to the College Freshman Player of the Year since 2018 and is named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former standout at the University of Alabama and the 2005 NFL MVP with the Seattle Seahawks. Past winners include; Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) – 2018, Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis)-2019 and Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) – 2020, Brock Bowers (Georgia) – 2021, Drake Maye (North Carolina) 2022 and Caleb Downs (Alabama) 2023.
Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 6 and the top-five finalists will be revealed on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The 2024 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year winner will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 26. The award presentation will take place on Friday, March 14, at the 88th Maxwell Awards in Atlanta.
The Longhorns kick off the season at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Aug. 31, at home against Colorado State. The game will air on ESPN from inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium with Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst) and Dawn Davenport (sideline reporter) on the call.
