“Play for each other.”
It’s a common saying heard in football locker rooms at every level, and as someone who plays with fierce emotion on every snap, Texas sophomore defensive end Colin Simmons is no stranger to that.
But in his eyes, there’s another teammate with him who doesn’t actually don burnt orange on Saturdays that may be the most important of all.
“He has no choice but to be my why,” Simmons said on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff on Oct. 11.
That “he” is his 10-year-old younger brother, Clayton Roberts.
For Colin and Clayton’s mother, Monica McCarley, it became clear early on that Clayton was developing more slowly than his peers. In 2020, at 4 years old, he was diagnosed with autism.
Around this time, Simmons’ football stock was skyrocketing at Duncanville High School. As a junior, he became one of the most sought-after recruits after totaling a school record 22.5 sacks. With a promising future ahead, it would’ve been easy for him to focus solely on his career.
Instead, Simmons has embraced the role of a big brother as well as anyone could’ve. When he gets a chance to spend time with Clayton, you can see Colin playing with him or watching him draw and color.
Colin’s love for Clayton also played a big factor in his decision to commit to Texas in August 2023. Along with the proximity to his family, seeing head coach Steve Sarkisian and the coaching staff play tag with Clayton during an official visit in June 2023 made it clear that the Longhorns were the program for him.
As time went on, however, the realities of raising a child with autism became increasingly apparent.
“In the area that we lived in, there’s absolutely nothing for special-needs kids to do,” McCarley said on Big Noon Kickoff.
With the lack of resources in the area, Simmons and McCarley decided to use resources of their own to make a difference, utilizing Simmons’ NIL fund to create a nonprofit called “Clay’s Color Crew.”
The nonprofit aims to provide specialized care, resources and activities for children diagnosed with autism in underserved communities. This past summer, it held a football camp to give the kids a place to channel their energy, with celebrity guests volunteering, such as Green Bay Packers star edge rusher Micah Parsons.
“It’s just the love that I have for my little brother and the kids that are like him,” Simmons said. “I feel like it is a blessing to be able to do this and to be in the position I’m in right now.”
Finding a purpose off the field, Colin has continued to blossom into a star on the field. He immediately made an impact as one of the premier players on the Texas defense, was named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year last year and has already totaled seven sacks through seven games this season.
He looks to build off his elite Longhorn tenure so far and continue the Longhorns’ push to the College Football Playoff. But despite his prowess as a player, he makes sure to be the best big brother he can be.
“As long as we get to spread his story … I’m all here for it,” Simmons said.
