Texas Football: 3 incoming freshman who’ll compete for a starting role in 2023

Anthony Hill Jr., LB

The most likely of the three true freshmen on this list to start for Texas right away in 2023 is definitely the former elite five-star Denton Ryan linebacker recruit Anthony Hill Jr.

The highest-rated linebacker recruit in the nation for the 2023 class was one of the biggest additions later in the cycle for the Longhorns. He should be an immediate plug-and-play linebacker that will have a shot to start this fall next to rising senior All-Big 12 middle linebacker Jaylan Ford.

The plan for Hill is probably going to be to play some type of hybrid inside linebacker role to replace at least part of what Texas is losing in the departing senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. Hill should bring a lot of pop to this defensive front as he is a real playmaker that can wreak havoc in opposing team’s backfields as a pass rusher and in run defense.

Hill has a rare combination of straight line/chase-down speed and athleticism along with the playmaking ability and experience while playing inside linebacker coming out of high school. He won’t have to take that traditional route of playing outside linebacker at the outset of his collegiate career while learning the tricks of the trade on the inside.

Hill is already a more than capable downhill linebacker that brings a lot of pad pop at the line of scrimmage while being able to effectively contest space while chasing down the ball carrier.

Where I would like to see Hill show some growth in camp this offseason is his overall ability and consistency in pass defense. One of the notable areas where Hill needs to make some strides at the collegiate level is in coverage.

If Hill is showing ample improvement in terms of his coverage skills throughout camp this offseason, that should be more than enough for him to win a starting spot heading into the 2023 season.