Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is once again in the running for the prestigious Butkus Award! This marks the second year in a row that the talented junior has been named a semifinalist, a testament to his exceptional skills and contributions to the team.
The Butkus Award, as you may know, is a highly coveted honor, annually recognizing the nation's top linebacker. This year, Anthony Hill Jr. finds himself among a select group of 12 semifinalists.
But here's where it gets interesting: This recognition continues a strong tradition for the Longhorns. Before Hill's back-to-back nominations, Jaylan Ford was a semifinalist in 2023. Further back, DeMarvion Overshown earned the nod in both 2021 and 2022. Adding to the legacy, Derrick Johnson actually won the award in 2004, and Sergio Kindle was a finalist in 2009.
This season, Hill has been a cornerstone of a dominant Texas defense. The stats speak volumes: The Longhorns currently lead the nation in total sacks with 34, and they're ranked impressively high in several other key defensive categories, including rushing defense (2nd), team sacks (2nd), and opponent yards per rush (2nd). They also show up well in opponent red zone scoring attempts, sacks per game, opponent rushing first downs per game, fourth down conversion percentage defense, opponent points per play, opponent yards per play, opponent offensive touchdowns per game, opponent offensive points per game, scoring defense, team tackles for loss, total defense, and turnovers gained.
A native of Denton, Texas, Hill has played in 39 career games, starting 31 of them. This season, he's started in all nine games, racking up a team-high 63 total tackles, including 34 solo tackles, and 3 forced fumbles. He's a force to be reckoned with! He leads the SEC and ranks 12th nationally in forced fumbles and is 9th in the league in total tackles. He's also second on the team in tackles for loss (6.5), sacks (4.0), quarterback hurries (5), and interceptions (1).
Let's look at some standout performances:
- In a recent win against No. 9/11 Vanderbilt, Hill recorded 4 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack.
- He was named the Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week, Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week, and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after his performance against Mississippi State, where he had career highs in sacks (2.5), pressures (4), and tackles for loss (3.5), along with a forced fumble and 10 tackles.
- In an overtime victory at Kentucky, Hill had 12 tackles and his first interception of the season.
- Against Florida, he produced a career-high 14 tackles and returned a fumble for 21 yards.
- In the home opener against San Jose State, Hill recorded 5 tackles and a career-high 2 forced fumbles.
And this is the part most people miss... His consistent performance and leadership on the field have been critical to the Longhorns' success.
The Butkus Award finalists will be announced on November 25th, and the winner will be named on or before December 10th. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium on January 31, 2026.
The Longhorns have a bye week on November 8th before heading to No. 5/5 Georgia on November 15th.
What do you think? Do you believe Anthony Hill Jr. has what it takes to win the Butkus Award? Are there any other linebackers you think deserve recognition? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
