Ryan Wingo arrived in Austin in 2024 ranked as the No. 38 overall prospect in his class according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. Colin Simmons showed up at Texas as the No. 28 player from his class. Both carried high expectations entering their freshman seasons, but both had their fair share of freshman moments. Those moments started in preseason camp.

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Both benefitted from active roles in 2024. Their respective talent put them on the field early. In fact, Simmons logged a sack against Michigan. Not wanting to miss out on the action, Wingo logged a 55-yard run that set up Texas’ final touchdown against the Wolverines. But neither had to step into starting roles. Wingo had Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden in front of him. Simmons was behind Trey Moore on the depth chart.

That helped each star freshman get acclimated. Though both were extremely talented, the Power Four and the SEC was a different ballgame compared to what they were used to, even when going against their own teammates in training camp.

“I think it was the speed at first,” Wingo said Thursday. “They’re way more aggressive over here. Getting hands off of you, they’re super handsy up here. That speed and then people are just stronger.”

At a certain point, both players had dips in production. Simmons started his season hot, logging four sacks and six TFL in Texas’ first five games. But against Georgia and Vanderbilt, he didn’t register anything on the stat sheet. Wingo had a good beginning to the season, recording a 100-yard game with a score against UTSA and catching another touchdown against ULM. But in November, he hit the proverbial wall. Against Florida, Arkansas, and Kentucky, he had two total catches for 11 yards.

“I think everybody hits a wall,” Wingo said. “I don’t really know a specific game where I hit a wall. I was pretty consistent throughout the season.”

As a freshman, it’s “the wall.” For sophomores, it’s the “slump.” Texas can ill afford for either of Wingo or Simmons to have a slump. Luckily for the Longhorns, their level of comfort in year two, especially during preseason camp, has them ready to take on the starting roles in front of them in 2025.

“Hella comfortable,” Simmons said. “I feel way more comfortable than I was my freshman year, especially with knowing the playbook and flying around out there having fun. That’s really the main thing with me, having fun out there. I don’t want to think it’s like a job or something I have to do. Just go out there, have fun, do what I’m supposed to do, do my assignment, and get better as a team.”

Wingo will be one of Arch Manning‘s main targets in 2025. After a campaign that saw him log 29 catches for 472 yards and two scores along with five carries for 100 yards, Texas will need the St. Louis native to step up after Bond and Golden left for the NFL.

Simmons is one of the most feared pass-rushers in college football in 2025 after recording nine sacks and 14 TFL in 2024. With Moore moving to a more multifaceted role that’ll see him sometimes on the edge and sometimes off ball, Simmons will need to be an impact player for the Longhorns on every down and not just in passing situations.

Both Wingo and Simmons made sure to do what was necessary to get ready for their roles.

“I really paid attention to the little things this offseason in fall camp,” Simmons said. “I’ve really been paying attention to my eyes and the IQ of the game, getting better at everything that’s a part of my game.”

Said Wingo, who missed a segment of spring drills and a handful of preseason camp practices: “I feel like I got better through being able to watch. Being able to watch (DeAndre Moore), being able to watch all the freshman work.”

Both players will have to utilize what they learned in the offseason this year. Texas can’t afford for either of them to hit the wall or suffer from a slump. There’s no Golden to step into the starting lineup when Wingo struggles. The Longhorns need Simmons to live up to every bit of his five-star billing to keep the defense elite.

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Ahead of important 2025 for both players, Simmons and Wingo feel as if they’ve done what’s necessary to be ready for their second seasons in burnt orange and make the most of more opportunities as Texas chases a national championship.