In a decision that may not surprise fans, Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. announced Monday that he would forego his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft.
Hill was a standout from his first game on campus and quickly became one of the country’s top linebackers. After a late-cycle flip from Texas A&M, as a freshman, Hill was primarily deployed in a pass-rushing and utility mode and notched 67 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and five sacks, and was named
a Freshman All-American. To start the 2024 season, Hill fully stepped into his role as a true linebacker and was one of the most dominant forces at the position in the country. He notched 113 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks, earning him first-team All-American Honors — the first to earn the honor since Joseph Ossai in 2020.
Despite missing the final two games of the 2025 season with a broken hand, Hill was still one of the best linebackers in the conference, notching 69 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks in his final campaign with Texas.
There is some variance around his NFL Draft stock, with some analysts giving him a top-15 selection grade, while others have him as low as the third round, depending on team need and fit. Some of that variance could depend on Hill’s true position at the next level, whether he sticks to traditional inside linebacker or moves to a more pass-rushing focused position.
Texas fans were given a preview of what life may be like post-Hill, with sophomore TyAnthony Smith stepping in to relieve Hill after his injury. Smith played well in those two games and was a key part of the Longhorns second-half shut down of the Texas A&M offense.
