Anthony Hill Jr. 2026 NFL Draft: scouting report for Texas, Linebacker

Anthony Hill Jr. has the upside of an All-Pro, but can he become a complete linebacker after the NFL Draft?

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor

Jan 26, 2026 12:15 AM EST

Height: 6-3
Weight: 238 Pounds
Year: Junior
Pro Comparison: Bobby Wagner, Devin White

2026 NFL Combine Results

Anthony Hill Jr., Texas, Linebacker

Hand Size: N/A
Arm Length: N/A
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Vertical Leap: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A

Pros of Anthony Hill Jr.

Anthony Hill Jr. boasts an unbelievable set of athletic skills and abilities that are hard to replicate at his size, strength, and length. That’s why he won All-American honors as a true freshman linebacker, starting for Texas in the SEC. That’s also why NFL teams are still drooling over his potential now.
Hill can not only bring the boom in the run game, but he can also get after the passer in a variety of ways when called upon too. He doesn’t often line up as a true edge rusher, but Hill can win any time there’s only one blocker assigned to him and he’s coming on a blitz.
Hill boasts nearly 2,000 snaps of experience against the highest levels of competition and he’s proven to be an elite run stopping force whose athleticism shines against every single opponent he’s faced three seasons in a row.

Cons of Anthony Hill Jr.

He improved in his final season somewhat, but Hill was a significant liability in pass coverage for most of his first two seasons with the Texas Longhorns. He can get turned around and beaten in man coverage. His instincts in zone are far superior, but there’s still room for growth.
Hill almost never misses a tackle anymore (less than 5% miss rate in 2025), but he can struggle to get off of blocks when facing pulling guards with a running start. He could stand to improve in avoiding and shaking contact when he doesn’t have the initial momentum edge.
He quite often is looking to make a big play, but sometimes there’s a slight hesitation as he looks for the right gap to blow up opposing runners. When he relies on his instincts and attacks, Hill can be a special run-stopping force, but slight delays lead to him getting caught up in traffic sometimes.

Background

Anthony Hill Jr. was a top tier five star recruit and the number one overall linebacker in the nation from the 2023 class. He played for the historic Denton Ryan program in Denton, Texas, staying in-state to play for Steve Sarkisian and company. Everyone throughout all of college football knew from day one that he was going to be a top defensive playmaker in the sport at the highest levels. His athletic potential, unreal strength, and natural gifts were undeniable. Hill earned a starting role as a true freshman and never looked back, immediately asserting himself as an All-American talent. He tallied over a dozen sacks, nearly 200 tackles, and defended a half dozen passes in his time with Texas.

Player Evaluation

Hill is an impressive physical specimen who looks like the typical modern prototype NFL linebacker standing at 6-3, 238 pounds, with top notch athleticism. The potential is sky high with Hill, and every NFL team knows this. However, there are some questions when it comes to his complete development to this stage. Yes, he’s a strong, powerful tackler when he gets his hands on opposing playmakers. He can create havoc in creative ways rushing the passer and pushing the pile up front.

However, there are definitely technique issues in coverage and some inconsistent displays of instinctual play that have some doubting his day one and every down readiness. If Hill can loosen up his hips in coverage and attack with gap discipline and proper leverage against blockers who try to force their way into the second level then he could be an All-Pro upside candidate.