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Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons was an absolute problem against Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 26, and not just for creating havoc on Volunteers true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon.
Simmons, arguably the best pass-rusher in college football, had a field day against No. 13 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) in Week 4, finishing the No. 1 Longhorns’ 20-17 win with eight total tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble, along with 10 total pressures and two quarterback hits. The projected first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft made headlines for other reasons, though, after he was flagged for a controversial celebration in the second quarter.
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Simmons was called for unsportsmanlike conduct on third-and-13 for “simulating using the restroom” on a celebration after sacking Brandon. The flag resulted in an automatic first down for the Vols, which Texas coach Steve Sarkisian understandably was not happy about.
“We took him out, we addressed it and put him back in,” Sarkisian said after the game. “At that point I’m not going to give the guy the death penalty over an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. We have to fix it. That can’t continue as we move forward.”
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Simmons also apologized for the celebration after the game.
“I apologize for the celebration,” he said. “I was definitely in that mode, feeling myself. But it happens. Charge it to the game.”
The former five-star recruit now has 28 career sacks in three seasons and was a huge reason for the Longhorns avoiding upset in the hostile road environment. While Sarkisian admitted Simmons needs to clean up the “emotional” mistakes, he acknowledges the all-time performance as it’s tied for the most sacks by a Longhorns player ever.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Sarkisian said of Simmons’ game.
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Colin Simmons stats vs Tennessee
Simmons’ five sacks are the most by an SEC player since at least 2000, according to ESPN. He finished the game against Tennessee with eight total tackles — six solo — along with a forced fumble, 10 total pressures and two quarterback hits.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas’ Colin Simmons made history vs Tennessee. His peeing-on-field penalty made headlines
