Texas Football: 3 freshmen to watch heading into fall camp

Anthony Hill Jr., LB

Among the most impactful true freshman on campus for the Longhorns heading into fall camp is the former elite five-star recruit out of Denton Ryan High School, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. The No. 1 rated edge rusher recruit in the nation in the 2023 class made a big splash when he arrived on campus as an early enrollee to participate in spring ball.

Within the first few weeks of spring practice, it became clear that Hill was different. Despite being an inexperienced true freshman, he showed he would be too good for Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns to keep off the field this season.

The 6-foot-3 and 234-pound first-year linebacker is the favorite to win the starting job at the sam spot heading into fall camp. Texas can utilize Hill’s special physical tools and playmaking ability to make an impact on run defense and as a versatile pass rusher. Hill should help fill the void left by senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown as PK’s hybrid pass-rush specialist at the linebacker position this fall.

If Hill really shines in the early stages of fall camp, he could push junior Morice Blackwell Jr. and redshirt senior David Gbenda for reps at the will linebacker position. The plan for Hill will ultimately be to develop him into the starter at will linebacker once he’s fully comfortable in PK’s defensive scheme. He could jumpstart that process if he proves to be ahead of schedule in his development at linebacker in fall camp.