Texas Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. Emerges as Top NFL Draft Prospect

The 21-year-old junior has the size, athleticism, and experience to be an impact player at the next level.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 2:00am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a linebacker in motion, with sharp planes of color and overlapping shapes conveying the raw physicality of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a linebacker's explosive power and athleticism, capturing the fractured, multi-angled nature of the position.Dallas Today

Anthony Hill Jr., a third-year junior linebacker at the University of Texas, is one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. Standing at 6'2" and 238 lbs, Hill has prototypical size for the position and has already amassed nearly 2,000 defensive snaps over his three-year college career. In 2025, he finished third on the Longhorns in tackles with 69, while also recording seven tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

Why it matters

As teams in the NFL continue to emphasize the linebacker position and the ability to stop the run, Hill's combination of size, athleticism, and experience make him an attractive prospect. His production and versatility, lining up both inside and on the edge, could make him one of the first linebackers off the board in the 2026 draft.

The details

Hill was a five-star recruit out of Ryan High School in Denton, Texas, and chose to play for the Longhorns over offers from Texas A&M and Oklahoma. He would earn a starting job midway through his freshman season and never relinquish it, becoming a key part of the Texas defense. In 2024, he had a breakout year, leading the team with 113 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, one interception, and four forced fumbles. While he had some technical issues with his tackling in the past, Hill cleaned those up in 2025 and emerged as one of the cleanest linebacker prospects in the draft.

  • Hill has played a significant role for the Texas Longhorns since his freshman year in 2023.
  • In 2024, Hill had a standout season, leading the team in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and forced fumbles.
  • In 2025, Hill finished third on the team in tackles while also recording seven tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

The players

Anthony Hill Jr.

A third-year junior linebacker at the University of Texas who is one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Texas Longhorns

The college football team that Anthony Hill Jr. has played for over the past three seasons.

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What they’re saying

“Anthony Hill Jr. is one of the better inside linebacker prospects in the past few years, especially at nearly 240 pounds in an age where linebackers have gotten lighter.”

— Nick Falato, NFL Draft Analyst

What’s next

Hill will look to continue his strong play in his final season at Texas before entering the 2026 NFL Draft, where he is expected to be one of the top linebacker prospects.

The takeaway

With his combination of size, athleticism, and experience, Anthony Hill Jr. has emerged as one of the most intriguing linebacker prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. His ability to make plays against both the run and pass could make him a highly sought-after player at a premium position in the league.