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It's a homecoming for Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr at the Cotton Bowl

On3 imageby:Justin Wells•about 14 hours
Anthony Hill
Anthony Hill (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

For Texas sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr, it’s a homecoming of sorts for the Denton (Texas) Ryan native and Metroplex product. He’s returning to AT&T Stadium, the scene of his state championship, and tons of family and friends in the area.

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The 6-foot-3, 235-pound All-SEC defender is ready to rock in front of his family and friends on Friday. And Team Hill rolls deep.

“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be like 30-40 people,” Hill said during the media availability today. “It’s a lot of guys that I know around here. I’m expecting the crowd to be rowdy and cheering for us, and we’re going to be ready to play.”

Hill is no stranger to AT&T Stadium or big games. He was an integral part of Denton Ryan’s Class 5A-D1 state championship in 2021 in Jerry’s World after being named Max Preps First Team Sophomore All American that season.

He turned that around for another big junior campaign. He was named District 5-5A Co-MVP, Class 5A first-team all-state, and Max Preps Junior All American. By the time his senior season rolled around, he was the No. 1 rated linebacker in the country.

“It’s pretty cool if you play in the state championship because you’ll play here,” said Hill Jr. “It’s a real honor to be playing in this stadium. It’s going to be really cool being back in here, going and executing, and trying to win.”

His father, Anthony Hill Sr, is just as excited to see Anthony Jr putting on the icy whites for Texas’ CFB Playoff semifinal matchup with Ohio State on Friday.

“We don’t have a lot of family in DFW, but we have lots of friends coming,” Hill Sr told Inside Texas.

Hill Jr mentioned playing in front of family and friends certainly has its advantages.

“I mean, it’s pretty cool,” Hill Jr. said. “My family comes to every game, so it’s no different for me, but it’s pretty cool playing at home and knowing that they don’t have to travel and all that extra stuff.

It’s been a long time since the Longhorns brought home a national championship in 2005. Hill Jr and the Horns think it’s time for the next one.

“It hasn’t been done in, I think, 20 years now,” Hill Jr explained. “So, it’s going to be pretty cool. Hopefully we can do that. We’re going to execute and do that when we go play.”

Texas came close in 2023. A last-second loss in the CFB Playoff semifinals ended the season, but there’s a strong number of players on this year’s squad who remembered what the end of the game felt like last season.

What’s the difference in what the players knew last year and the experience they’ll bring into this season’s semifinal?

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“Just cherish the moment and come ready to prepare to win the football game,” said Hill Jr. “I feel like last year we were a little bit loose because it was our first time there. But now I feel like we’re ready to go win this football game. We prepared the right way to go and win.”

It’s not like Hill Jr. hasn’t been here before.

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