Texas All-American linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. explains why he thinks two of his teammates are elite
Texas’ leader on defense talks about a defensive star and an offensive star and why he predicts it’s going to be a special year for the Longhorns.
Anthony Hill Jr. joined teammates Michael Taaffe and Arch Manning in Atlanta earlier this week for SEC Media Days. The All-American linebacker did the full media car wash and fielded questions all day Tuesday about the 2025 season.
He was also asked about a few teammates. When he was, he didn't hesitate to exude confidence about both of them. One was reigning Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-SEC Team defensive end Colin Simmons.
The other was Arch Manning.
The way Hill remembers it, he knew Simmons was going to be one of the best when he stepped on campus.
"From the first day of spring ball when he came in, I seen, I knew something was going to be different about him, just the way he can get off the football and do different stuff," Hill said. "The way he can bend, I knew he was going to be special from one of the first couple practices. It's an honor to play with him. He's going to have a great year this year."
Naturally, Anthony Hill Jr. couldn't get away from the media scrum without being asked about Arch Manning. He didn't mince words either.
"Just the way he reads the defense. He reads it really well. He also has the ability to take off and run and change the play calls," Hill said. "He's done that a lot of times against us. I feel he's going to have a really good season. He deserves to have the season that he rightfully deserves.
"I feel like he does a really good job handling some of the hype around him. He doesn't really have a social media or do any of that stuff. I know he's going to be ready to play," Hill said. "I've been practicing against him for the last three or four years. I know he's going to be ready to go or ready to play when the moment and the lights are on."
