Anthony Hill Jr. is entering his third season at Texas. If Mel Kiper Jr. was controlling an NFL team’s draft decisions, it’d also be Hill’s last season at Texas. On Wednesday, ESPN’s draft expert raved about the Longhorns linebacker. “He’s one of the best five football players in this draft,” Kiper said. “I think you […]
Anthony Hill Jr. is entering his third season at Texas. If Mel Kiper Jr. was controlling an NFL team’s draft decisions, it’d also be Hill’s last season at Texas. On Wednesday, ESPN’s draft expert raved about the Longhorns linebacker.
“He’s one of the best five football players in this draft,” Kiper said. “I think you gotta put him outside. And I want to see Texas at Ohio State in Week 1… You got the great receiver Jeremiah Smith, you got Carnell Tate, got new tight end Max Klare, coming in from Purdue. There’s a lot of talent there at Ohio State.
“… This kid, Hill, whoever the quarterback is, he can chase and he can get after you off the edge. He showed that last year. How do they utilize him in Texas? He’s off the edge more, Field? He goes a lot higher. But if he’s off-ball, he may still be around [pick No. 10] in the draft.”
Hill’s talent will be put to the test in Texas’ season-opener against Ohio State. However, he’s given scouts no reason to doubt him in the past.
Last season, Hill exploded for 113 tackles, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception. Hill didn’t shy away from the spotlight. In Texas’ win over Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, Hill tied his season-high 11 tackles, while notching two sacks and a forced fumble.
Hill recorded six tackles in Texas’ season-ending 28-14 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinals. He’ll be hungry for revenge when the two teams meet again on Aug. 30.
Evidently, experts don’t expect Hill to slow down in the 2025 campaign. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound LB was named a preseason All-SEC First-Team selection by the league’s media and coaches. Now, he’ll look to prove he’s worthy of the praise, while simultaneously boosting his draft stock.
“It’s just understanding football better. Everything was fast my freshman year, just being able to slow it down to understand stuff my sophomore year,” Hill said of his growth. “Hopefully, I can take that next leap and get even better my junior year because the game has slowed down a little bit more.”
It won’t be long before Anthony Hill Jr. can show off his offseason improvement to any NFL scouts watching. On Aug. 30, Texas will kick off its season against Ohio State at noon ET. The game will air live on FOX.
Category: Football
