Josh Frey’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide: Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.
The off-ball linebacker position is one that often goes overlooked, but when teams get a good one, they can transform a defense.
The 2026 NFL Draft has a number of quality linebackers who could be in the mix for starting jobs immediately, and Anthony Hill Jr. is one of them looking to leave his mark at the NFL level.
Background
Statistics
- 2023: 67 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble (14 games)
- 2024: 113 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 1 pass defended, 1 interception, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery (16 games)
- 2025: 69 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 pass defended, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery (10 games)
Measurables
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight” 238
- Hand Size: 9 5/8″
- Arm Length: 32 7/8″
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.51
- 10-Yard Split: 1.58
- 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
- Vertical: 37″
- Broad Jump: 10′ 5″
- 3 Cone: N/A
- Bench” 21
It takes a talented player to step in as a starter on an SEC defense as a freshman, but that is exactly what Hill did. After spending the first half of the season getting pretty consistent snaps as a rotational defender, he took over a starting job in Week 9 of his freshman season in 2023 and never looked back.
2025 did bring a setback for hill though as he suffered a broken hand against Georgia in November. The game ended what had been a very productive season for the linebacker, and then, he suffered a hamstring injury at the NFL Combine that forced him to miss the on-field drills out of an “abundance of caution.”
Strengths
NFL teams can expect lightning in a bottle out of Anthony Hill Jr. He is an explosive athlete with great size for an off-ball linebacker at 238 pounds. He stuffed the stat sheet during his time at Texas, and it should be no different at the NFL level due to his versatility.
Hill’s greatest strength is his prowess in the running game combined with great tackling technique. He is alarmingly quick off the snap as a downhill blitzer, and as a result, he racked up tackles for loss during his collegiate career with 31.5 in 40 career games including 17 sacks.
Once he gets through the line of scrimmage, he makes his presence known with big hits, leading to eight career forced fumbles. He also has the versatility to play over the middle or drop down towards the line and play off the edge occasionally. He’ll be a great chess piece for an NFL defensive coordinator.
Weaknesses
Hill’s downhill ability to make plays near the line of scrimmage can be a blessing and a curse. He doesn’t have the most refined technique in coverage and can struggle with his hip movement.
He can also get caught looking downfield too often, biting on play action and losing the man he should be covering.
Finally, while he has prototypical size for an off-ball linebacker, the fact that he is an off-ball linebacker because noticeable at times when he goes up against bigger offensive linemen. He doesn’t do well trying to disengage from blocks.
2026 NFL Draft Projection
- NFL Draft Projection: Day 2 (Early 2nd Round)
- Team Fits: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, Denver Broncos
Hill isn’t a perfect prospect by any means, but there is a ton of talent that is ready to explode at the NFL level. He is ready to step in and make some big plays at the NFL level.
Editor’s Note: Statistics from Sports Reference CFB and Pro Football Focus helped with this article.
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