Anthony Hill Jr.‘s 2026 NFL Draft Profile coverage hasn’t reached mainstream levels yet. It is still early, and there is plenty of time before the draft. But NFL evaluators around the league are quietly taking notice. The Texas linebacker is a traits-driven defender with rare explosiveness, high-end athleticism, and a rapidly developing football IQ that could push him up draft boards once official testing numbers are released.
Hill isn’t a classic stack-and-shed thumper, but he’s a modern linebacker who wins with speed, instincts, and disruption. His ability to diagnose, trigger, and erase space sideline-to-sideline gives him legitimate three-down upside in the right defensive structure.
Anthony Hill Jr. 2026 NFL Draft Profile
Quick Information
Linebacker | Texas Longhorns
Hometown: Denton, Texas
Height / Weight: 6’3” / 240lbs
Projected 40: ~4.50
Draft Projection: Late Round 1 – Mid Round 2
Sneaky LB1 Candidate
Background & Career
Hill emerged from Ryan High School as one of the most decorated linebackers in Texas history, finishing his prep career with 303 tackles, 13 sacks, and nine forced fumbles while earning consensus five-star status. A standout multi-sport athlete, he also contributed to a state runner-up 4×400 relay team.
He stayed home to play for Steve Sarkisian at Texas and made an immediate impact. As a true freshman in 2023, Hill cracked the starting lineup midseason and flashed star potential, highlighted by a dominant road performance against Alabama that sealed a signature win.
By 2024, Hill had become the heartbeat of the Longhorns’ defense during their SEC transition and College Football Playoff run, leading the conference in tackles for loss and finishing as a Second-Team All-American. His junior season in 2025 ended early due to injury, but not before reaffirming his status as one of the most productive and disruptive linebackers in college football.
Athletic Profile & Play Style
Hill is a plus athlete with rare range. He closes ground effortlessly, accelerates through gaps, and plays with a constant sense of urgency. He’s not a block-taking linebacker who wants to stack and shed offensive linemen, but he excels at slipping traffic, finding clean lanes, and arriving violently at the ball carrier.
This is a defender who wins with speed, instincts, and aggression, and those traits consistently show up against top-tier competition.
Strengths
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Elite sideline-to-sideline range with burst that erases angles in pursuit
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High-level instincts and quick trigger when reading run concepts
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Violent downhill finisher with strong tackle production and splash plays
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Natural pass-rush ability uncommon for off-ball linebackers (17 career sacks)
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Disruptive playmaker with eight career forced fumbles and consistent backfield impact
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Big-game performer who elevated his play against Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia, and other elite opponents
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Zone coverage upside, showing awareness, depth, and length when pattern-matching
Areas for Improvement
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Block disengagement remains a concern when offensive linemen get into his frame
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Man coverage vs. quick backs is inconsistent due to hip stiffness and recovery timing
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Over-aggression can lead to overrunning plays and opening cutback lanes
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Tackling form needs refinement; can tackle high and allow extra yards after contact
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Play-action discipline must improve to avoid getting caught flat-footed in zone drops
Scheme Fit & Projection
Hill projects best in hybrid or multiple-front defenses that value speed and versatility at the second level. He’s at his best when allowed to flow freely, blitz selectively, and play in space rather than being asked to consistently take on blocks head-on.
This makes him a realistic and intriguing option for teams drafting in the late first to mid-second round—particularly defenses looking to modernize their linebacker unit. He fits naturally with aggressive coordinators who prioritize disruption over traditional read-and-react stack play.
NFL Comparison
The comparison has been flying around across the league. Hill mirrors Greenlaw’s explosive play style, range, and ability to impact games despite not being a textbook stack linebacker. Both win with speed, violence, and instincts rather than pure size or block destruction.
Final Evaluation
Anthony Hill Jr. is one of the most divisive defenders in the 2026 class, and that’s exactly why he’s dangerous. Some evaluators see volatility and unfinished coverage instincts. Others see a rare athlete with improving processing, elite production, and a ceiling that few linebackers can match.
Once his official measurements and athletic testing confirm what the tape already suggests, Hill has a legitimate chance to rise into late first-round consideration. He may not be everyone’s LB1 today, but the combination of instincts, athleticism, and impact plays gives him a strong case to become the best linebacker from this class at the NFL level.
Draft Grade: Early–Mid 2nd (with clear upside into Round 1)
Sneaky Take: Don’t be surprised if Hill ends up the best linebacker from the 2026 draft when it’s all said and done.
