Tag: Anthony hill

Texas A&M LT Trey Zuhn III is prepared to face Texas LB Anthony Hill

Former Texas A&M commit and current Texas Longhorns LB Anthony HIll could be an issue, but Aggies’ LT Trey Zuhn is ready for the challenge

Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 SEC) is very thankful this week after being granted another shot at the SEC Championship Game due to Alabama’s shocking loss to Oklahoma, as the Aggies’ disappointing loss to Auburn in quadruple overtime didn’t result in the postseason ending repercussions.

Setting up the renewal of the Lone Star Showdown between Texas A&M and Texas, a win against the Longhorns would mean the Aggie’s first trip to Atlanta for the SEC Title game, which is an obvious tall task.

Knowing what’s at stake, Monday’s press conference included starting left tackle Trey Zuhn III, one of the program’s predominate leaders, discussing the defensive challenge ahead, which includes Texas sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill.

Hill, who was once committed to Texas A&M before flipping to the Longhorns, has recorded 79 tackles, 38 solo tackles, and 7.5 sacks on the year and has become one of the team’s top pass rushers in key situations. So, is Zuhn ready to face the former Aggie commit?

“He’s a great player, but he’s nothing that we haven’t seen before and nothing that we can’t handle.”

Confidence is great, but knowing that every Texas fan has bookmarked this quote with the thought of Hill wrecking the game is likely in the back of Zuhn’s mind; knowing just how good the junior tackle has been this season is one of the reasons the Aggie offensive line should be confident heading into Saturday night.

“I’ve been dreaming of playing in this game ever since I was a kid. Ever since I started playing football, I was born and raised an Aggie, so it was a dream to play in this game.”

No. 19 Texas A&M will host No. 3 Texas on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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Pair of Texas Longhorns named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list

These two defenders will be key in 2024 for Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense.

On Tuesday the Football Writers Association of America revealed its annual Bronko Nagusrksi Trophy watch list with a pair of Texas Longhorns defenders making the cut.

Defensive back [autotag]Jahdae Barron[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Anthony Hill[/autotag] joined the list of 75 players who made the initial cut. Barron is returning for his fifth season on the Forty Acres. Over his first four seasons, the fifth-year defensive back played in 41 total games with 23 starts. He has made 21 starts over the last two seasons.

A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2023, Barron has tallied 90 solo tackles, 160 total tackles, 17.0 TFLs, 16 PDs, and three interceptions during that time. He will be a key contributor for a Texas defense that is looking to be better against the pass in 2024. The team finished No. 12 in the Big 12 last year with 254.4 passing yards per game, which would have been No. 13 in the SEC just ahead of the LSU Tigers (255.6) and Vanderbilt Commodores (279.6).

Hill on the other hand is looking for a larger role in year two on the Forty Acres. He played in all 14 games with six starts earning a share of the 2023 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. Overall the former five-star signee tallied 67 total tackles, 40 solo tackles, 8.0 TFLs, with five sacks and one forced fumble.

Hill is expected to be the full-time starter at the middle linebacker spot between Morice Blackwell at SAM and David Gbenda at WILL. Both Barron and Hill could be major factors for the success on defense in 2024, which would make them worthy of the honor of becoming the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner.

Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.’s 2024 snapshot profile

A look at second-year linebacker Anthony Hill Jr as he heads into the 2024 season.

Texas Longhorns linebacker [autotag]Anthony Hill[/autotag] is heading into his second season on the Forty Acres. The standout defender was highly coveted coming out of the 2023 class, ultimately deciding on coming to Austin.

Despite only being a true freshman, the Longhorns defense thrust him into action immediately. He saw action in all 14 games, starting six of them. For his efforts, Hill was named FWAA Freshman All-American, co-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, and a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist.

With the 2024 college football season fast approaching, our preview continues with Anthony Hill Jr.’s player profile.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Denton, Texas

Ht: 6-3

Wt: 243

247Sports Composite Ranking:

Five-Star | No. 1 Linebacker | No. 17 Nationally (2023 Class)

Class in 2024: Sophomore

Career Stats

Games Solo Tackles Assisted Total TFLs Sacks FF
14 40 27 67 8.0 5.0 1
(Courtesy of Stats Perform)

Depth Chart Overview

Hill played early and often for the Texas Longhorns defense in 2023. The only linebackers to get more snaps than Hill’s 545 defensive snaps were Jaylan Ford and edge rusher Barryn Sorrell. Hill is the projected starter at the weakside linebacker spot ahead of David Gbenda.

2023 Anthony Hill Photo Gallery

Nevada expected to hire Texas assistant Jeff Choate as head coach

Texas assistant Jeff Choate appears to be the next head coach for Nevada.

Texas could be losing an assistant from head coach Steve Sarkisian’s strong coaching staff. Longhorns co-defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Jeff Choate is expected to become the next head coach for the Nevada Wolf Pack.

Choate has certainly earned head coach consideration after a strong three seasons in Austin. While he has head coaching experience dating back to his time at Montana State, it’s his linebacker development at Texas that commands perhaps the most recognition.

The Longhorns’ assistant has helped develop on of the better linebackers in college football in Jaylan Ford. Several other players have benefitted from his guidance. Veteran linebacker David Gbenda is on an upward trend while freshman linebacker Anthony Hill has come into his own for the Texas defense.

Undoubtedly, Choate’s absence will be felt should he depart west to coach Nevada. Even so, he’s played an integral role in building a high IQ defense that should have staying power for the foreseeable future.

Steve Sarkisian praises the freshmen class and how talented they are

Texas has a group of freshmen that will make immediate impacts.

This past recruiting cycle for Texas is one that can help shape the program for years to come. Continue reading “Steve Sarkisian praises the freshmen class and how talented they are”

Anthony Hill named to On3’s preseason true freshman All-American team

Anthony Hill is a star in the making

Of all of the talented freshmen that Texas brought in from the 2023 class, only one of them was named a preseason true freshman All-American by On3.

Former five-star linebacker Anthony Hill, who they ranked as the No. 4 player in the country, is the sole Longhorn named to the team. When talking about what he brings to the table, On3’s Charles Power raved about his aggressiveness and physicality.

“Aggressive, physical, downhill linebacker with versatility to also be a situational pass rusher. I think that skill set, his level of development, coming from a top HS program … has him set up to really make an impact early on as a freshman for Texas.

Hill has reportedly been emerging as a young star during fall camp, and has even been moved to a couple different spots. He was an elite athlete at the high school level, racking up 303 tackles, 13 sacks, and nine forced fumbles.

Eight thoughts on the Texas football team after fall camp

Practice reports are saying what you want them to say about this Texas team.

We are through the second scrimmage of fall camp. It’s time to ramp up preparation for the 2023 college football season.

Texas has its team, but, more importantly, appears to have defined roles for its players. We will get into how we expect the wide receivers will tier within the Longhorns’ offensive attack later.

For now, you have to feel good about where the Texas offense is heading into the season. The weapons are present, but the foundation in the trenches is also encouraging.

Several players have had a great offseason. Quinn Ewers is at the forefront of that list, which is probably the most welcomed news of the offseason. Texas needs Ewers to be consistent and it appears that is what he has been from March through late August.

Here’s a look at eight takeaways from the Texas football offseason.

Texas DC Pete Kwiatkowski has players ahead of freshman LB Anthony Hill

It appears Pete Kwiatkowski doesn’t intend to start Anthony Hill this season.

Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski appears to be making an interesting personnel decision. It seems Kwiatkowski has no intention of starting five-star freshman linebacker Anthony Hill this season. Unless he’s truly not ready, which is doubtful, it appears his skillset could be underused.

Kwiatkowski said the following of what Hill will bring to the team.

“He just has a knack for finding the ball. He’s got some good players in front of him, so he’s going to be able to learn, not be thrown into the heat of things. He’s going to be able to learn piecemeal, then for us as coach it’s finding that role for him where, like I mentioned earlier, maybe it’s on third down, passing situations where we can get him involved coming off the edge or blitzing, playing to his skillset.”

That’s not exactly encouraging about the prospects of playing time this season. Kwiatkowski has had a history of interesting depth chart decisions. In 2021, the Texas assistant opted to start linebacker Luke Brockermeyer over Jaylan Ford despite Ford making plays consistently in game time. Predicting a breakout season for Ford was perhaps the easiest pick last offseason. Anyone with football intelligence could have predicted Ford’s breakout.

The roster decisions extend to other positions as Kwiatkowski had defensive lineman Alfred Collins in a situational role that hardly saw the field in 2021. It appears that’s what he has planned for Hill.

Kwiatkowski had a strong season in 2022. He clearly knows football. Nevertheless, should the defense not continue to improve, questions over the depth chart decisions could be among the first talking points for the defense.

Is Texas LB Anthony Hill an immediate impact freshman?

If you can read the tea leaves, it’s obvious Anthony Hill could stand to make an impact soon.

Texas linebacker Anthony Hill is a player who could upend commonly accepted beliefs about freshman. He can make an impact right away. Continue reading “Is Texas LB Anthony Hill an immediate impact freshman?”

Texas Football: Five Longhorns ready to break out in 2023

These five Longhorns can become household names in 2023.

Texas football is on the doorstep of competing for a conference title and potentially a College Football Playoff berth in 2023. Continue reading “Texas Football: Five Longhorns ready to break out in 2023”