Colin Simmons and Former Coach Mack Brown Honored at Maxwell Awards

Simmons earned Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year, while Brown received the Francis “Reds” Bagnell Award.

ATLANTA – Texas Football’s Colin Simmons and former head coach Mack Brown were celebrated at the 88th Maxwell Awards held on Friday at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Simmons was named the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year on December 26, and Brown was presented with the Francis “Reds” Bagnell Award for Contributions to Football, announced on December 18.

Simmons made history as the first Longhorn to receive the Alexander Award, which has been presented for seven years. A Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-American, Simmons was also named to the All-SEC Freshman Team in December.

The Dallas native had an outstanding freshman season, emerging as a key player on a top-tier Texas defense. Simmons played in all 16 games, leading the team with 9.0 sacks for a loss of 64 yards. He ranked second in tackles for loss (14.0-73), quarterback hurries (nine), and forced fumbles (three). He also tallied 48 total tackles (31 solo), one interception, and two pass break-ups. Simmons led all FBS freshmen in total sacks, with his nine sacks ranking as the third-most by a freshman in Longhorn history. During the postseason, Simmons recorded 15 quarterback pressures, the third-highest in FBS.

Simmons played a significant role in helping the UT defense rank No. 1 in FBS in interceptions with 22. Texas also ranked second in turnovers gained (30) and team passing efficiency defense (104.56), third in total defense (283.4 ypg), and red zone defense (0.692). The Horns finished fourth in scoring defense (15.3 ppg), seventh in passing yards allowed (173.8 ypg), and ninth in third-down conversion defense (0.314). The team shut out opponents in the first half in three of the last four games, all against conference rivals. The Horns allowed just four passing touchdowns in the regular season, tied with Ohio State for the fewest in FBS.

With 47 years of experience in collegiate coaching, Brown served as a head coach for 36 seasons, with tenures at Texas (1998-2013), North Carolina (1988-97, 2019-24), Tulane (1985-87), and Appalachian State (1983). Over his career, Brown accumulated a 288-155-1 record (.650), ranking seventh in FBS history for career victories. Brown, the 2005 Paul W. “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year and 2008 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year, is one of the few coaches to lead two programs to top-five national finishes, and the only one to win 100 games at two FBS schools.

By the end of his tenure at Texas in 2013, Brown was one of only four active coaches with over 200 career wins. He guided the Longhorns to the 2005 National Championship and led his teams to 21 bowls in 22 seasons. Brown finished his Texas career with 225 wins, the most by any coach in the country from 1990 to 2013, including his time at UNC and Texas.

Brown was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in December 2018 and is also a member of several prestigious halls of fame, including the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Longhorn Hall of Honor, and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. He joins coaching legends like Bobby Bowden, Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, and Darrell Royal, all of whom have received the Bagnell Award.

A highly respected figure in football, Brown has contributed to national committees, including serving as president of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He has been a part of the AFCA Ethics and Public Relations Committees, the NCAA Football Rules and Issues Committees, and chaired the Football Coaches’ Committee. Brown has also been invited to coach in five postseason all-star games, including the Japan Bowl and the Hula Bowl. In March 2013, he received the Neyland Trophy for his contributions to college athletics.

“When you think of impactful leadership on the football field, Mack Brown is at the top of that list,” said Maxwell Football Club Executive Director Mark Wolpert. “His coaching resume speaks for itself.”