4 big overreactions after Texas's crushing win vs. ULM

There were some highlight reel plays from Texas football redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning in the first start of his collegiate career this weekend in a convincing 51-3 win over the UL-Monroe Warhawks at home on Sep. 21. Manning showed off his insane arm talent and precision on multiple beautiful deep ball connections with his many weapons in the receiving corps.

Texas football limits ULM's offense to just 3 points as Arch Manning wins his first career start in Week 4

Literally every single one of Texas's explosive plays of at least 20 yards on offense came from Manning's arm on deep balls in the win over ULM in Week 4. Manning's eight explosive passing plays accounted for over 200 of his 258 passing yards in this game.

Junior running back Jaydon Blue also had a career day for the Longhorns, getting into the end zone three times on the ground and once in the receiving game. Blue posted a season-high 124 rushing yards on 25 carries, good for a career-high four total touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Longhorns choked the life out of ULM's offense in both phases of the game. Texas held ULM to barely over 100 total yards of offense. ULM also didn't manage over 60 rushing yards or over 60 passing yards in this game against Texas's stifling defense.

Here are four big overreactions following Texas's decisive 48-point victory over ULM in Week 4 at home.

Anthony Hill Jr. is the best linebacker in the P4

The defensive MVPs of this win over ULM for the Longhorns were second-year linebackers Anthony Hill Jr. and Liona Lefau. Hill and Lefau were making plays everywhere for Texas's front seven in this game, forcing a turnover, getting consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback, and stifling ULM's diverse ground attack.

Hill is what I want to focus on here, though, since he continues to play at a level where his five-star talent is really coming together with his development and play on the field early this season. He's flying all over the field on the defensive side of the ball for the Longhorns this season, making big-time and impactful plays defending the run, contesting space, and dropping back into pass coverage.

Hill set the tone for Texas's defense very early in this game, coming up with a beautiful interception where he tipped the ball to himself for what was going to be the first defensive TD of his career if not for the play being called back on a block in the back penalty near the end zone.

Despite the flag that called back Hill's pick-six halfway into the first quarter of this game, he still set up Texas's offense with great field advantage and an immediate opportunity to turn the drive into a score, which is what happened to give the Longhorns a two-score lead early on.

After the first four weeks, Hill leads all SEC linebackers in coverage grade (per PFF).

I can't say enough about Hill's development as a pass-coverage linebacker early this season. He's been entrusted to man up in pass coverage with more slot targets, tight ends, and backs running out of the backfield as receivers in the past few games.

Texas's cohesive and consistent linebacker play this season has not only translated to the improved results for the pass defense, but the pass rush is also more effective from this level of the defense at LB. Hill and Lefau both had sacks in this win over ULM this weekend.

"We hopefully have about 12 games to go, so we need to get better to be where we want to be."

- Anthony Hill Jr.

It's worth noting that Hill isn't letting the success he and the Texas defense altogether have put together in four non-conference wins. His development and mental mindset are showing pretty insane levels of maturity and leadership for a second-year backer early in his sophomore campaign. Texas's defense is in great shape with insanely-gifted leaders like Hill spearheading this unit into SEC play next week.