Texas Football: 3 true freshmen with rising stock halfway through fall camp

Anthony Hill Jr., LB

The biggest immediate impact prospect Texas signed at linebacker in the 2023 class is clearly the former five-star recruit out of Denton Ryan High School, Anthony Hill Jr. The No. 1 ranked linebacker recruit in the nation in the 2023 class in the 247Sports Composite has looked the part physically and with his pass-rushing ability immediately for the Longhorns since arriving on campus for the start of spring ball.

At the very least, Hill has proved he will be a difference-maker in the pass rush for Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns as a hybrid edge rusher. And if he continues to stand out in that role, PK and the Longhorns will expand his duties to start taking more reps at the will linebacker spot deeper into the fall.

Hill’s name is constantly mentioned through the first half of training camp among the true freshmen impressing in team drills and scrimmage settings. He’s able to effectively drum up pressure on the quarterback in simulated live-game action, including recording a couple of would-be sacks in last weekend’s scrimmage.

Inside Texas reported earlier this week (paid content) that Hill and senior standout linebacker Jaylan Ford were described as LBs that are “next-level physical”. For Hill to be mentioned in the same breath as a senior linebacker and the Big 12 preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Ford, as a true freshman, shows how much attention he’s caught immediately in training camp.