Spring football is on the horizon for the 13 FBS programs in the state of Texas. That means it is time to shift focus forward and rank the 10 best players at each position across the state, continuing with edge rushers. 

The Lone Star State sent 10 programs to bowl games and two to the College Football Playoff as only Rice, UTEP, and Houston missed out on the postseason after the 2024 season. The 2025 season looks like another big year for the Great State because of the returning talent and added star power from the transfer portal. 

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1. Colin Simmons, Texas

2024 recap: 48 tackles, 14 TFL, 9 sacks 

Simmons won the Shawn Alexander Freshman of the Year Award after leading the Horns with nine sacks in his first season on the Forty Acres. The former five-star recruit and state champion at Duncanville played in all 15 games as a true freshman and was credited with at least one sack in seven of those. He recorded two sacks against Arkansas and Mississippi State. 

2. Devean Deal, TCU 

2024 recap: 46 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks 

Deal arrived in Fort Worth after earning All-AAC honors for Tulane in 2023. He hit the ground running in his first year playing Power Four football, leading the Frogs in tackles for loss and sacks. He played in all 13 games with eight starts, including the final seven contests. Deal was the Defensive MVP in the New Mexico Bowl win after recording five tackles, 1.5 TFL and a sack against Louisiana. 

3. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M 

2024 recap: 40 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4 sacks

Howell was an ultra-productive pass rusher in the MAC during his three seasons at Bowling Green, racking up 13 TFL and 11.5 sacks in 30 games. He played in all 13 games last year while backing up future NFL draft picks Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart. Expect Howell to be even more productive in 2025 thanks to a bigger role, especially on passing downs. He started in the Las Vegas Bowl. 

4. Romello Height, Texas Tech

2024 recap: 34 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks

Height was considered one of the best edge players available in the transfer portal and he’s been productive at every stop. His most recent was at Georgia Tech after beginning his career at USC. He was credited with 31 pressures by Pro Football Focus this past season and enters 2025 with 15.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks over 36 career games. 

5. Trey Moore, Texas

2024 recap: 36 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks

The UTSA transfer started in all 15 games for the Longhorns in 2024. He didn’t record a single sack in the first nine games of the year but closed strong with at least one in five of the last seven. Moore enters 2025 with 40 career starts, 45 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one interception as a collegiate. He’s a product of Smithson Valley. 

6. Isaiah Smith, SMU 

2024 recap: 32 tackles, 8 TFL, 6.5 sacks 

Smith finished 2024 tied for third at SMU in sacks behind the departing Elijah Roberts and Jahfari Harvey. He’s waited his turn as a former three-star recruit who arrived on the Hilltop in 2022. He’ll be one of the main edge rushers for the Ponies in 2025 alongside Cameron Robertson and transfers such as Trey Wilson and DJ Warner. 

7. Brandon Mack, Houston 

2024 recap: 39 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks

The former Ole Miss transfer is an experienced defender who began his college career back in 2019. He only played in 11 games while a Rebel from 2019-22, thanks in large part to a season-ending injury in 2021. He transferred to Houston ahead of 2023 but only played in two games due to another injury. Mack stayed healthy last year and posted career highs in nearly every defensive category. 

8. Matthew Hobbs-White, Baylor

2024 recap: 21 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4 sacks

Baylor must find edge rushers in 2025 and the Bears turned to the transfer portal with Hobbs-White from Tulane and Emar’rion Winston from Oregon. Kam Morgan is another name to watch off the edge for Baylor this season. Hobbs-White was a productive player at Tulane as a sophomore. 

9. Vic Shaw, UTSA 

2024 recap: 21 tackles, 4 TFL, 2.5 sacks 

UTSA quietly produces elite edge rushers on a regular basis in its short history as a football program. From Marcus Davenport to Clarence Hicks to Trey Moore and Jimmori Robinson, the Roadrunners normally strike fear in opponents off the edge. Shaw is the next up with Robinson transferring to West Virginia. The Texarkana native played in all 13 contests last year as a redshirt freshman and recorded a sack in a start against Coastal Carolina in the bowl win. 

10. Briceon Hayes, North Texas 

2024 recap: 30 tackles, 7 TFL, 5 sacks 

Hayes is one of numerous Sam Houston standouts who followed defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity to Denton. He was a consistent edge rusher for the Bearkats last season and should help bolster a North Texas defense that must improve for the Mean Green to compete for championships in the AAC.