Biles Leads Texas Defense in Five Categories
Linebacker Rasheem Biles carried the Longhorns' defense while Colin Simmons sat out two games with an ankle sprain.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Football
Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles led the Longhorns' defense in five statistical categories while star pass rusher Colin Simmons was sidelined for two games with a high-ankle sprain. Texas defeated Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the games Simmons missed.
Why it matters
With Simmons, the nation's leader in sacks and tackles for loss, out for part of the stretch, Biles' production kept the Longhorns' defense performing. Biles is also aiming for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker.
Biles posted 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss against Mississippi State on Oct. 31, in a 31-3 Texas win. The figures come from a single game, and the extraction does not report his season totals.
The players
Rasheem Biles
Biles is a Texas linebacker and a candidate for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker.
Colin Simmons
Simmons is a Texas defensive end who leads the nation in sacks and tackles for loss, and missed two games this season with a high-ankle sprain.
The details
Biles' first sack against Mississippi State jarred the ball loose from quarterback AJ Swann. Later, he blocked two Bulldogs to clear a path for Maraad Watson, who picked up the loose ball and ran 61 yards for a second-quarter touchdown.
Timeline
Oct. 31: Texas defeats Mississippi State 31-3, with Biles posting 3.0 sacks.
Saturday, 6:30 pm CT: Texas plays LSU in Baton Rouge, broadcast on ABC.
Season Trajectory
Biles' production while Simmons was out positions him as a serious contender for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's top linebacker each season. Texas' defense is being carried by depth at a point when its best pass rusher is returning from injury.
Biles' multi-category production makes him a strong fantasy linebacker option in leagues that reward tackles for loss and sacks. Simmons' return status will shape how the Texas front seven is deployed against LSU.
The takeaway
Depth on a college defense can carry a team through a key player's absence, and Biles' five-category production shows how one linebacker can fill that gap.
What happens next
Texas faces LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday at 6:30 pm CT, broadcast on ABC, the next test for the Longhorns' defense.
Further reading
For more on the Longhorns' defensive picture, see Texas Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 247Sports.
