On3 Roundtable: Anthony Hill ready to make early impact

Texas signed the No. 3 class nationally in the 2023 recruiting cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. And with so much incoming talent, there are plenty of candidates as potential breakout freshmen.

Inside Texas’ Bobby Burton already has one highly-touted freshman who enrolled early penciled in to make a splash: linebacker Anthony Hill. A five-star talent from in state, Hill has the athletic pop to get on the field and make an impact early. Burton shared more with On3’s J.D. PicKell in an On3 Roundtable previewing the Longhorns in 2023.

“He came in and he did not take a starting position away from a senior, but he looks like he’s running second team right now. And furthermore, he looks like he might be the best pass rushing specialist on the team, even at a young age,” Burton said.

He explained further, adding that Hill is flashing some pass rush ability to head coach Steve Sarkisian in an offseason where the Texas coaching staff are in search of more ways to harass opposing quarterbacks.

“And that’s something that Texas lacked a year ago, getting after the quarterback. And that’s something they want to improve. I think they’re going to find ways to get Anthony Hill on the field, early. Particularly in passing downs,” Burton said.

It’s possible Hill could be headed for a role similar to the one Harold Perkins — another highly-touted linebacker from the state of Texas — took on in 2022 for LSU. Perkins racked up sacks and became a force off the edge for LSU late in his freshman season. Perkins had 7.5 sacks, an interception and four forced fumbles and was, at times, unstoppable. Just ask Arkansas.

Hill, a five-star recruit out of Ryan (Tx.) High School, was the No. 16 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, and also recruited as an off-ball linebacker. But his college coaches have quickly discovered that Hill has a knack for evading lineman and corralling quarterbacks.

He might not be in line to start, but if Hill can create similar results for Texas — scheme varies but sacks and quarterback hits count the same — the Longhorns defense could get a noticeable boost. And if he makes it a habit of sacking the quarterback, it’s certain that Hill will see more and more of the field for the Longhorns in 2023 and beyond.

“He just has a natural feel for it, a natural burst in the pass rush game,” Burton said.