Anthony Hill Jr. is a linebacker from Texas projected to be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. This comprehensive scouting report analyzes Hill’s draft potential, current mock draft trends, and where he ranks among the top prospects.
Anthony Hill Jr.’s NFL Draft Potential
A former five-star recruit and a first-team All-American in 2024, Anthony Hill Jr. was a favorite in the summer to contend for Round 1 capital, and in some circles, he was an early LB1 candidate. His 2024 production was impressive, and on film, it’s easy to see the crux of his appeal: He’s a truly otherworldly athlete with invigorating closing speed and range at 6’3″, 238 pounds.
However, in 2025, inconsistencies with processing, block take-on, and tackling technique have come back to bite him. Hill has early-round physical ability as a run-and-chase WILL LB, but I need to see him finish strong for him to stay in my Top 100, with the amount of good LBs in the 2026 NFL Draft.
CFB Week 9 Update
Hill’s 2025 season has, for the most part, been a disappointment — but his showing against Mississippi State in Week 9 was arguably his best yet. Hill logged two sacks and nine pressures per PFF, and excelled as an attacking, run-and-chase linebacker and a blitzing threat.
His teleportation-level explosiveness is lethal through interior gaps, and he can erase space in an instant as a QB spy pursuing to the boundary. He’s still very inconsistent driving power as a pass-rusher and as a block deconstructor — which are both vital skills for his NFL transition. But his Week 9 showing was a sign of life, and it shows that his sheer athleticism and pursuit motor can dominate games in spurts.
CFB Week 10 Update
Hill once again had an exceptional showing as an attacking run-and-chase LB for the Longhorns against Mississippi State, securing a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Hill’s explosiveness and lower-body flexibility at his size serve as his most valuable assets, but he also has the short-area quickness and malleability to adjust his attack paths and stay alive in extended pursuit.
Whether he makes the NFL leap in 2026 or 2027, Hill’s ability to put offenses under pressure with his sheer playmaking range and blitzing utility will earn the interest of NFL defensive coordinators — even if he still needs further refinement as a zone manager and block deconstructor.
CFB Week 11 Update
Texas was on a bye in Week 11. They’ll return to action in Week 12 against the Georgia Bulldogs.
CFB Week 12 Update
The Longhorns were thoroughly outclassed by Georgia 35-10, but Hill had one of his best plays of the entire season with his interception on Gunner Stockton. Working the hook zone, he turned his hips outside and baited Stockton to throw the in-breaker looping behind Hill, then flipped back inside and extended to undercut the ball in an acrobatic display.
That kind of coverage instinct hasn’t always been apparent on Hill’s film, so seeing it in tandem with his S-tier athleticism is extremely exciting. Elsewhere, his Week 12 showing was up-and-down. Predictably, he fell for the eye candy on misdirections and motions at times, and his block take-on can still improve — but the coverage, pass-rush, and attacking upside is very clear.
Where Is Hill Being Selected Most Often in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator?
Hill currently holds the No. 46 overall rank among prospects, positioning him as a Day 2 prospect. His most recent Average Draft Position (ADP) of 39.8 as of November 19 reflects that he is typically being selected in the second or third round.
Interestingly, his ADP is higher than his rank, suggesting that users are targeting him more aggressively than his positional ranking might indicate.
Users controlling the Houston Texans have been the team that selected Hill the most frequently over the past week, accounting for 4.0% of their picks across all seven rounds.
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Where Does Anthony Hill Jr. Rank Amongst Other NFL Draft Prospects?
Hill is currently outside the top 100 in my November big board but remains an intriguing prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. Rankings are updated monthly as the college football season progresses and more scouting information becomes available.
Want to see how we rank all the draft prospects in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator? Check out our NFL Draft Prospect Rankings page, which includes more than 750 prospects.