AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Associated Press, like many national college football outlets, loves the Texas defense.
Three Longhorns cracked the AP’s preseason All-America first-team list: linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., defensive end/edge Colin Simmons and defensive back Michael Taaffe.
Hill and Taaffe were second-team AP All-Americans for the 2024 season, helping the Longhorns make it to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Simmons was named to the Football Writers Association of America first-team defense and won the Shaun Alexander freshman of the year award last season.
Texas and Penn State, the top two teams in the preseason AP Top 25, landed three players each on the first team.
Westlake graduate and Austin native Cade Klubnik, in his fourth year at quarterback for the Clemson Tigers, was named to the first team. He threw for 3,639 yards with 39 touchdowns and six interceptions last season to help push the Tigers into the CFP first round where they lost to Texas at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Round Rock graduate Leonard Moore, a defensive back at Notre Dame, was named to the first team.
Texas A&M offensive guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams was a first-team selection and linebacker Taurean York made the second team.
Texas’ opening-week opponent, defending national champs Ohio State, landed two players on the first team: wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and defensive back Caleb Downs. Buckeyes tight end Max Klare was a second-team pick.