Former Longhorn Anthony Hill Jr. can finally cross a major milestone off his bucket list. On Friday, the 2026 draftee signed his first NFL deal with the Tennessee Titans. He was one of the seven players from the Titans’ draft class to sign their rookie deal. Now Hill’s focus will be on replicating his success in college at the NFL level.
During his college career, the Texas native appeared in 40 games and recorded 249 total tackles. He also made life difficult for offensive coordinators with 17 sacks. Regardless of who the Longhorns were facing, Hill was a human wrecking ball.
In his last collegiate season, Hill showed why he can be a difference-maker. He set a new career-high in interceptions with two. While the Ryan High alum was limited to 10 games, he still recorded 69 total tackles, the second highest of his career. That drew the attention of the Titans, who needed an impact player on defense.
As Hill made headlines with his play, he also added to his trophy case during his time at the Forty Acres. He was named a Second-Team All-Americanlast season and a finalist for the Butkus Award. Each year, the award is given to the top linebacker in the country. After setting a career-high in total tackles with 113 as a sophomore, Hill was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award.
With his first NFL deal signed, Hill can now focus on helping make the Titans a contender. They finished the 2025 campaign with a 3-14 record, which was the worst in the AFC South. The roster also features former Longhorn star Gunnar Helm, who should be a good source of knowledge for Hill to lean on.
Although Hill begins his pro career with high expectations, he has the potential to be a star at the next level. If that happens, then the Titan defense will not be an ideal matchup for the next few years as they look to end their rebuild.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Former Longhorn Anthony Hill Jr. signs first NFL deal with Titans
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
