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Texas' 2025 defensive line amongst the best according to PFF

According to a recent PFF article, the Longhorns' defensive line unit is ranked amongst the best in the country heading into the 2025 season.
ByMatthew Wilson|
Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Colin Simmons (11) celebrates after a pass break up during the third quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Colin Simmons (11) celebrates after a pass break up during the third quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images | Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Texas' defensive line was utterly dominant last season, but it could be even better in 2025 with the interior additions of Travis Shaw, Cole Brevard, Maraad Watson, Hero Kanu, and Lavon Johnson. It's obvious that Longhorn DC Pete Kwiatkowski wanted to focus on solidifying the defensive tackle position this offseason after losing both Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton to the NFL Draft in April.

Both edge rushers Colin Simmons and Trey Moore were deadly on the perimeter for the Longhorn defense in 2024, but now it looks like Moore will be moving to linebacker in 2025. Though the team might be planning to use Moore off-ball, it wouldn't be surprising to see him used as a 2nd-level blitzer this year, seeing that his 8 sacks last season were top-10 in the SEC.

According to PFF, Texas' defensive line unit is ranked as the 10th best (a little low if you ask me) in college football heading into the 2025 season.

"The Longhorns bring back the nation’s best edge defender in Colin Simmons. The former five-star recruit hit the ground running as a true freshman, finishing 2024 as the sixth-most valuable edge defender in the nation according to our WAA metric. The only five above him were all drafted within the first four rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft: Abdul Carter, Jack Sawyer, Mike Green, Josaiah Stewart and JT Tuimoloau."
Pro Football Focus

They go on to rave about transfer DT Cole Brevard, who was 12th amongst Big Ten defensive linemen last season with an overall PFF grade of 75.0. Texas also brought back senior defensive end Ethan Burke for 2025, who has participated in 40 career games as an effective rotational player on the edge.

Though Trey Moore is officially a linebacker now, they should be in good hands with two blue-chip true freshmen entering the fold in Lance Jackson and Justus Terry. Jackson (6'5", 258 pounds) and Terry (6'5", 262 pounds) already have above-average body types and size for their age and could possibly compete for rotational snaps this year.

Both Jackson and Terry were also ranked No.3 at their respective positions in the 2025 recruiting class as well.

Also read: July is a colossal month for Texas football recruiting

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