Texas Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is a Good Football Player

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University of Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is always lurking around, pointing out defensive adjustments pre-snap.

What’s he going to do?

Is he comin’

Or is he droppin’

?

The opposing quarterback scans the defensive front ⎯

Nobody quite knows for sure, which only adds to his value.

One thing’s for sure. Hill can do it all. Plus, he plays run defense like he means it.

No doubt ⎯

Hill offers a lot of game planning flexibility.

He was everywhere on film.

I mean seriously ⎯

He was always around the ball. Sideline-to-sideline. Doesn’t matter. He’s there. He was either making the stop himself, assisting, or somewhere in the picture.

Was he perfect?

No.

Was he productive?

Yeah. Very.

They’re talking about University of Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.

Vs. Sam Houston (2025) pic.twitter.com/4reImbtSsg

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) February 28, 2026

His numbers confirm his film

Per ESPN:

• 70 tackles
• 38 solo
• 1 pass defended
• 4 sacks
• 3 forced fumbles
• 2 interceptions

That’s quite the variety of production. No question, he’s opportunistic. Hill has a knack for leveraging space and for putting himself at the right place at the right time.

He also added 16 pressures per Pro Football Focus; that same platform stated he participated in 86 total pass rush snaps in 2025.

What stood out the most?

Hill brings a bigger-than-life presence to a defense. He’s a maestro of a physical symphony.

What do I mean?

I mean that he’s someone opposing offenses are aware of, and just his mere presence can force a critical mistake by the opposing quarterback.

I saw it happen.

Hammers people

That’s another thing that stuck out ⎯

HILL BRINGS IT.

This prospect levels whoever has the ball in his hand. He’s a heavy hitter. Quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, whoever. Doesn’t matter. I saw a couple of hits when opposing players got up visibly shaken. I won’t go so far as to say he’s out there intentionally trying to hurt opposing players, but he ain’t playing flag football either.

He stings.

University of Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. dropping the 🔨 vs. San Jose State (2025) pic.twitter.com/jrFnI6S0aI

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) February 28, 2026

Pass coverage

Hill isn’t your grandpa’s middle linebacker. He’s a modern-day hybrid who has the girth and power to play bumper cars with the big boys on running plays, and he can slide to outside backer and look like he belongs there.

He can drop into zone coverage (defender is assigned to cover a certain area of the field), and he has enough speed to stick to targets like their shadows in man coverage (defender is assigned to cover a certain offensive skill position player wherever he goes).

While he’s more of an after-the-fact tackler than a “playmaker” in coverage, I was impressed.

Biggest negatives?

Nobody is perfect.

Including Hill.

• Sometimes overpursues on an angle
• Reactions are a little too slow at times
• Occasionally fooled by play misdirection

To his credit, he usually doesn’t give up on plays, and sometimes that second effort still gets it done. And I don’t want to overstate these things too much. Hill was rarely out of position.

NFL projection

This isn’t going to be the sexiest pick on day one, but it’s going to be one of the most functional.

Hill will be the crown jewel on some playoff-caliber defense.

Long term ⎯

I can see him being one of these linebackers who plays umpteen years in the league like a London Fletcher or Bobby Wagner.

I like Hill.

For the second straight year on game film ⎯

I like Hill.

A lot.

#0 Anthony Hill Jr. 6-foot-3, 238 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2026 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a Second Round prospect as of February 28, 2026

NFL Defensive Coordinator’s Dream Come True: Anthony Hill Jr. (2024: 16 games evaluated)

2025 game film evaluated: Ohio State, San Jose State, UTEP, Sam Houston, Florida, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Georgia (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Broken bone in his hand vs. Georgia Nov. 15, 2025

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Hardcore three-down backer. Athletic. Long arms. Enthusastic. Gets fired up. Good energy level. Active. Alert. Understands schemes. Above average straight-line speed. Blitzed a lot. Good short-area close. Labors to quickly change direction. No pass rush moves shown. Can sift through trash on run defense. Solid tackler. Disciplined to a fault.

Final words

Hill will change the complexion of an NFL defense.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.