The hype train in Austin just got louder. On August 15, the Walter Camp Football Foundation dropped its 2026 Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, and the Texas Longhorns are representing the SEC in a big way. Forget the Quinn Ewers questions - this is Arch Manning’s squad now, and he’s bringing serious heat alongside three other Longhorn standouts. With fall camp wrapping up and the season opener just 11 days away, Texas is officially loaded, ranked, and ready to prove the noise is justified. Here’s everything you need to know about the four guys carrying the Burnt Orange banner into 2026.
The "Fab Four" Headlining the Watch List
Texas matched Georgia for the most selections in the SEC with four names on the list, but let’s be real - no other program has this much star power per position. This isn’t just a participation trophy; it’s a statement that Sarkisian’s roster is the most talented in the country. Each of these guys brings a different dimension to the table, and together, they form the backbone of a legitimate national championship contender.
| Player | Position | Class | 2025 Stats | 2026 Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arch Manning | QB | Junior | 3,742 pass yards, 35 TDs | Heisman favorite (+350) |
| Ryan Wingo | WR | Junior | 1,178 rec yards, 9 TDs | Top deep threat in SEC |
| Colin Simmons | DL | Junior | 12 sacks, 19 TFL | DPOY favorite (+600) |
| Kelvin Banks Jr. | OL | Senior | 0 sacks allowed | Consensus All-American |
- QB Arch Manning (Junior): The face of college football. After a 2025 campaign that saw him throw for 3,742 yards, 35 touchdowns, and a sharp 68.4% completion rate, Manning is the betting favorite to hoist the Heisman. DraftKings has him at +350 (second overall), and if he torches Louisiana in Week 1, he’s taking the top spot. His arm strength and football IQ have scouts drooling, and his leadership in the locker room has teammates fully bought in.
- WR Ryan Wingo (Junior): The deep threat who keeps defensive coordinators up at night. Wingo racked up 1,178 yards and nine scores last year, averaging a blistering 16.2 yards per catch. He’s the perfect Robin to Manning’s Batman, and he’s only getting better. His route-running has improved dramatically this offseason, and he’s added ten pounds of muscle without losing any of that elite top-end speed.
- DL Colin Simmons (Junior): The most terrifying pass rusher in the SEC. Simmons finished 2025 with 12 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, and he’s currently the favorite (+600) for Defensive Player of the Year. He’s a one-man wrecking crew off the edge, and offensive coordinators are already game-planning around him. His first-step quickness is unmatched, and he’s added a new spin move that’s been unblockable in camp.
- OL Kelvin Banks Jr. (Senior): The veteran anchor. Banks is a returning consensus All-American who allowed zero sacks in 2025 with an elite 85.2 PFF pass-blocking grade. He’s the quiet leader of the line and the reason Manning stays clean in the pocket. His experience and technique make him the most reliable offensive lineman in the country, and he’s taken several young linemen under his wing this fall.
📊 Texas matched Georgia for the most Walter Camp watch list selections in the SEC (4 each) - The Longhorns are proving they belong among the conference's elite programs.
Fall Camp Heat and Heisman Odds Shifts
The timing of this announcement couldn’t be better. The Longhorns just wrapped up their final two-a-day session on August 17, and all four players are fully healthy and taking first-team reps. According to the team’s media availability, the energy at Darrell K Royal is electric. Banks is mentoring the younger linemen, Simmons is living in the backfield during scrimmages, and Manning looks sharper than ever. That on-field chemistry is a huge reason why Texas held onto the No. 2 ranking in the AP Preseason Poll (released August 16), trailing only Ohio State.
