Todd McShay highlights two biggest concerns in Anthony Hill Jr. as NFL prospect

Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has been very productive as an underclassman defender for the Longhorns. As he reaches draft eligibility, though, Todd McShay is looking for a couple of improvements to his game during his junior year.

McShay evaluated Hill, a Preseason All-SEC First Team selection, as a prospect in the class for the 2026 NFL Draft during this week’s episode of ‘The McShay Show.’ That came with a lot of pros regarding his measurables, statistics, and what he sees from him on film instinctively as a player who can have several effects on a defense.

“Anthony Hill – 6’3″, 235 pounds,” McShay said. “Runs a 4.48, okay. That’s what the estimated time is. I don’t know if I quite saw that. I think he’s fast. I think he’s like a 4.53-4.55 guy, which is great – very, very good.

“He’s got, obviously, great traits. Length at off-ball linebacker has become more and more important as the passing game has become more and more important because, I can tell you firsthand, they’re a pain in the ass to throw around and to throw over with that length, okay. Highly instinctive. I really like his instincts. Highly productive, obviously. A nose for the football, make a lot of big plays. What I notice about him is like, it’s kind of, not effortless, but like, some guys have fast eyes. They’ve been taught to read their keys.

“He, to me? What I saw is a guy that’s like, really used to it, really comfortable. It’s easy for him. Locates the ball quickly. Not a lot of false steps. Snuffs out, you know, screens and misdirections early. Faster than any other guy on that Texas defense on a lot of plays – not always but a lot of plays. Really effective in the passing game – good range, instincts, gets in position…I see a guy who’s very capable in coverage. And then you add the fact, at 6’3, 235? He can be effective as a pass rusher…But can he do it in the league?”

In 30 appearances, 22 being starts, Hill has posted 180 tackles, 25 being for loss, with 13 sacks, five forced fumbles with one recovery, three deflections, and an interception. That has had him top five in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and forced fumbles in each of his seasons on the Texas defense. That includes last year where, as the Longhorns’ most productive player on that side, Hill had 113 tackles, 17 being for loss.

Hill also had eight sacks, four forced fumbles — his lone recovery. He also had a pick with the tackles, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles being team-highs and the sacks being second-most by one to only Collin Simmons.

However, as for cons, McShay did have a pair in his assessment of Hill. Those come in regarding his engagement when it comes to a head along with some of his tackles despite his sheer total.

“I thought his take-on skills were average at best, but not bad. And I say that because, when he does get engaged, like fully engaged, it’s over. That’s the case with most off the ball linebackers,” McShay said. “When an offensive lineman climbs to the second level, and they get their 320 on your 235? It’s human nature at that point. What he does really well is he takes that snapshot that we talked about. I see that in him. He’s got the instincts, the eyes. He sees where the ball carrier is going. Is he coming right, coming left? Now I’m going in for engagement, but I’m going to make this shit quick. It’s got to be quick, you know what I mean? He does a good job with, like, that quick stun move and then, like, the quick hands. And so he keeps a lot of guys from getting to that final, like, ‘Oh, I’m done’ moment but, when they do, it’s over.”

“The second thing is, I think he’s a low-impact tackler…which isn’t the biggest thing in the world. And has five forced fumbles? You’d expect more of that like, (pop), on contact…Falls off a bunch of tackles, right.”

Based on that, as well as some recent history at the position, McShay didn’t know if Hill would be a first round pick right now. That said, if those improvements can be made, he may very well be one come the spring.

“Two knocks I’ve got on him right now, and they both can be improved upon and they’re not as important necessarily as the strengths,” McShay said. “Let’s see where we are in April. That’s the beauty of doing this. We got a foundation, and now we’ll grow.”