2026 NFL Draft Prospect Profile - LB Anthony Hill Jr.

Player Description

Name: Anthony Hill Jr.

School: Texas

Position: Linebacker (Off-ball)

Class: Junior

Height: 6'2

Weight: 238 lbs

Draft Projection: Late Day to Late Day 2

Strengths:

• Explosive athlete with outstanding burst

• Ideal size and frame for the position

• Near‑prototypical modern linebacker build and skill set

• Impressive motor that shows up snap after snap

• High‑level playmaker with natural instincts

• Excellent closing speed and sideline‑to‑sideline range

• Comfortable covering wide areas and working in space

• Has the foot speed to match receivers crossing the middle

• Highly versatile—capable of playing multiple roles at the second level

• Can function as a hybrid defender and rush the quarterback

• Fierce downhill blitzer with real stopping power

• Natural upfield tackler who finishes with force

Weaknesses:

Arguably the biggest concern in Hill Jr.’s game is his processing speed. On film, he’s often a beat late diagnosing run concepts—especially layered or misdirection looks—which causes him to miss chances to fill before plays develop. Those delays can make him a liability in run support. Some of that may stem from how frequently he was moved around; without consistent reps at one linebacker spot, he never fully settled into the keys and fundamentals required to play fast.

Whichever team drafts him would benefit from keeping him at a single position early and letting him master the basics before expanding his role. His athletic traits give him versatility, but he needs a stable foundation first.

When taking on blocks, Hill Jr. doesn’t consistently use his length or hands to engage, extend, and shed. He’ll sometimes try to slip around blocks, which pulls him out of proper leverage and opens lanes. With 32 3/8" arms, he has the tools to keep himself clean, but he needs to apply them with more discipline and technique.

As a tackler, Hill Jr. can be unreliable due to inefficient pursuit angles and high pad level. He often arrives too tall and fails to sink and wrap, relying instead on his speed to close space. That approach can cause him to overrun plays or miss tackles he should finish. Cleaning up his angles, lowering his pads, and tightening his strike‑to‑wrap mechanics will be essential for him to become a more dependable finisher at the next level.