Texas Leads Nation With Four Players on Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List

Texas placed a nation-leading four players on the 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year preseason watch list, with quarterback Arch Manning, wide receiver Cam Coleman, linebacker Rasheem Biles and edge rusher Colin Simmons earning recognition. The award, presented annually to college football’s top player, has previously gone to three Longhorns: Ricky Williams in 1998 and Colt McCoy in 2008 and 2009. Texas has also produced semifinalists in each of the past two seasons, with T’Vondre Sweat in 2023 and Quinn Ewers in 2024.

Manning returns to the list after directing Texas to a 10-3 record and its third consecutive 10-win season in 2025. In 13 starts, he threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 399 rushing yards and a team-high 10 scores on the ground. His closing performance in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, a 41-27 victory over Michigan, included 221 passing yards, 155 rushing yards and four total touchdowns as he earned MVP honors. Coleman, meanwhile, arrives from Auburn after leading the Tigers with 708 receiving yards on 56 catches last season. The junior receiver posted five touchdowns in 2025 and recorded career highs of 10 receptions and 143 yards against Vanderbilt.

Texas’ defensive additions and returning stars also received major preseason recognition. Biles transferred from Pitt after a second-team All-ACC campaign in which he totaled 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two interception returns for touchdowns. Simmons enters his third season after leading the SEC with 12 sacks in 2025, adding 15.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. The Walter Camp watch list will be reduced to 10 semifinalists in early November, followed by three finalists in early December; the winner will be announced during the second week of December.