Texas is losing Anthony Hill Jr., Liona Lefau, Trey Moore, and now top 2025 LB recruit Elijah Barnes this offseason and they need to find adequate replacements fairly quickly.
A big name to watch, at least as a replacement for Hill Jr. at MIKE, is Wisconsin's Christian Alliegro. There have been lots of rumors and rumblings around campus that Will Muschamp and the rest of the defensive staff is very high on him due to his size, athleticism, and mental toughness.
Alliegro's already met with Steve Sarkisian and Co. this week, and now we're just basically waiting to see what happens next.
Former Wisconsin LB Christian Alliegro is on campus at #Texas Monday, @ontexasfootball has learned.
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) January 5, 2026
More at https://t.co/Aj97EVnCEM pic.twitter.com/f7OUthLlxg
The 6'4", 245-pound linebacker from Darien, Connecticut, was an HM All-Big Ten selection in 2025 after totaling 53 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 1 pass breakup for the Badgers' defense. He did this in only 10 games due to a broken arm.
It's incredibly important to note that he broke it during the Ohio State game, and just wrapped up the arm and went back in. He didn't want to let his team down. The amount of toughness and leadership that this action displayed is very, very rare in today's game. This alone is incredibly intriguing and is one of the main reasons why he's lauded for his mentality.
Alliegro would come in and give the Longhorns' defense and true leader and playmaker in the middle of the defense in 2026. Though he's not as good as Anthony Hill Jr. is in coverage, Alliegro is much more of a force against the run. He's also more physical than Hill Jr. was at the point of attack when it comes to jamming tight ends and running backs in the passing game.
It wouldn't be surprising to see him commit to Texas within the next few days.