Elite EDGE, For Texas and Oklahoma have set themselves apart from the competition. Jake Kruel

Texas and Oklahoma have emerged as top programs when it comes to producing elite EDGE rushers. Both schools have leaned into recruiting top-tier prospects and cultivating them into impact players. Events like SEC media days, recruiting battles, and the upcoming 2026 class have made it clear that both programs approach the EDGE spot with purpose and resources.

At Texas, the arrival and development of Colin Simmons shows just how powerful their EDGE room has gotten. Simmons was a five-star recruit, widely regarded as the No. 4 EDGE in his high school class. He played as a true freshman in 2024 and racked up nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss—earning All-Freshman honors and attention in national rankings of the top EDGE rushers heading into 2025  His immediate impact gave Texas a foundation on the outside pass rush that few SEC schools can match. Analysts at Texas preseason position rankings even credited Simmons as the cornerstone of the Longhorns’ deep and explosive defensive front.

Texas didn’t stop there. They also added transfer Trey Moore, a former AAC Defensive Player of the Year after multiple seasons at UTSA, who joined the Longhorns to further bolster the edge rotation. Moore led the nation in sacks in 2023 before transferring and provided another high-level veteran presence at EDGE in 2024. Behind Simmons and Moore, Texas built depth and disruption off the edge, creating one of the most feared defensive line units in their second SEC season.

Importantly, Texas continues to chase elite EDGE recruits. They are actively battling Oklahoma and Ole Miss for Jake Kreul, a four-star recruit ranked among the top EDGE prospects in the 2026 class. Kreul, ranked top‑10 nationally at the position by On3 and ESPN, has narrowed his choices to those three programs. His family praised Texas coaches and the way scheme and development aligned with what he wants to become. That matchup of scheme and elite coaching shows how seriously Texas takes the position’s future .

Oklahoma, meanwhile, boasts its own tradition of EDGE strength and continues to field deep talent. Their front four entering 2025 is anchored by returning players like Damonic Williams and R. Mason Thomas, with junior edge defender Adepoju Adebawore, rotational tackle David Stone, and veteran Marvin Jones Jr. all offering experience, power, and depth. Analysts ranked Oklahoma’s defensive line second in the SEC going into 2025, citing their blend of veteran experience and incoming talent as unmatched by most teams not named Alabama .

Oklahoma also holds strong recruiting momentum. The same Jake Kreul recruiting storyline includes both Texas and Oklahoma in his top three; each school is actively pursuing him. Predicted to become a major EDGE, Kreul’s choice between the Sooners and Longhorns reflects how both programs have credibility at the position and in producing NFL-level pass rushers

On the national scale, elite EDGE rushers are highly valued in the NFL draft and college rankings. Publications’ top-25 EDGE rusher lists place Colin Simmons at No. 2 nationally, calling him among the very best in the country entering 2025, only behind Clemson’s T.J. Parker . That level of individual ranking speaks volumes about Texas’ ability to recruit and develop a yearly game-changing player at EDGE.

Oklahoma, for its part, regularly places front seven players—including EDGE rushers—in draft conversations and big-game evaluations. R. Mason Thomas, for example, returned multiple interceptions and recorded multiple sacks in high-leverage games during the 2024 season. He earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors and attracted NFL attention for his all-around impact rather than just raw speed or size .

Over the years, Texas and Oklahoma have treated EDGE as a signature position. The Longhorns prioritize in-state recruiting but also go national, balancing top Texas talent with high-end out-of-state prospects. Their decisions to recruit players like Colin Simmons from Duncanville, Texas (a homegrown five-star), as well as reclassifiers like Richard Wesley (a five-star from California in the 2026 class), show the Longhorns’ breadth of reach and seriousness about the position .

Oklahoma has historically done well in the portal and balanced elite in-state recruiting with key transfers. Their 2025 defensive front returning multiple high-minute defenders shows both depth and continuity. The Sooners’ front is ranked second in the SEC by PFF and state media based on returning production and experience—which both contribute heavily to pass rush success .

Why does EDGE matter so much for these schools? Because it often shapes all levels of defense: pressure on quarterbacks forces quick decisions, disrupts timing, and opens running lanes. SEC teams Anticipating Alabama, Georgia, or Florida, both programs know they need powerful and versatile EDGE players to crack top offenses. Texas and Oklahoma have built those units with scheme fit, elite athlete development, and recruiting scale in ways other programs struggle to match.

Looking toward the future, if Texas lands Kreul and integrates him into a rotation already led by Simmons and Moore, they will have one of the most talented and deepest EDGE rooms in the country. Oklahoma, meanwhile, will rely on Damonic Williams and Mason Thomas, while waiting on recruits and transfers to continue bolstering the line. Both programs project more top-end talent through 2026.

This focus separates Texas and Oklahoma from other elite programs who may have star EDGE players but lack the same depth or recruiting consistency. While Alabama and Georgia also sign elite EDGE rushers, Texas and Oklahoma’s recent success in winning Lamar Brown toss-ups, balancing recruits, and performing in SEC DE rankings shows their EDGE rooms are not just one-dimensional—they are strategic, deep, and built to sustain pressure all season long.

In summary, Texas and Oklahoma set themselves apart through elite EDGE recruiting, smart transfers, depth development, and validated performance. Texas leaned on Simmons’s immediate impact and added Moore’s experience while chasing top-ranked Kreul. Oklahoma counts on returning stalwarts like Williams and Thomas, while also competing for recruits against national brands. Their programs view the EDGE position not as a role but as a strategic identity—a reason why both dominate position ranking conversations and will continue to field disruptive pass rushers into 2025 and beyond.