Through the first few months of the 2024 campaign, Anthony Hill Jr. has been one of the Longhorns’ best defensive players. On Tuesday, he was rewarded for his play and added to the watch list for the 2024 Chuck Bednarik Award. Each year, the award is given to college football’s most outstanding defensive player.
During the Longhorns‘ 6-1 start, they led the nation in scoring defense (9.7 ppg) and total defense (237.3 pg). They rank second nationally and first in the SEC in passing yards allowed (133.0 pg). With Hill in the midst of a career year, the Longhorns have not been an easy team to face.
In seven games, the talented linebacker leads Texas with 50 total tackles, including 10 for a loss. He has also added 5.5 sacks to his resume and is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with one.
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While Hill leads the Longhorns in multiple categories, he has played his way into the national rankings. The Texas native currently ranks 12th in the country and third in the SEC in tackles for loss. He has recorded the ninth-most tackles by an SEC defender.
Following one of his best performances of the season, Hill’s latest recognition is no surprise. He has made an impact every time he steps on the field and, earlier this season added SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week accolades to his trophy case. If he can build on his recent play, another award could be on the horizon.
The semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 12, and the winners will be announced on Dec. 12. The Longhorns hope that Hill will once again hear his name called.