Oct 4, 2026 2:08 PM
Former Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has made an immediate NFL impact, earning Defensive Rookie of the Month after piling up 34 tackles for Tennessee.
Former Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. didn’t need much time to prove his college production could translate to the NFL.
The Tennessee Titans rookie was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September after becoming one of the most productive players on Tennessee’s defense during his first three professional games.
Hill piled up a team-leading 34 tackles, along with two quarterback pressures and two passes defensed during September.
That production has made the second-round pick one of the early bright spots for a Titans team that enters Sunday’s game against Baltimore at 0-3.
His NFL debut offered an immediate glimpse of what Tennessee might have found.
Hill recorded 16 tackles and two passes defensed against the New York Jets, then followed with another 10 tackles against Philadelphia.
He added eight more against the New York Giants, giving him the second-most tackles by a Titans player through three games since 2000.
Not bad for a rookie adjusting to Sundays.
Hill’s fast start shouldn’t surprise Texas fans.
During three seasons in Austin, the Denton Ryan product developed into one of college football’s most disruptive linebackers.
Hill finished his Longhorns career with 249 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles.
He also earned consensus second-team All-America recognition following the 2025 season and was a finalist for the Butkus Award.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian praised Hill’s versatility after Tennessee selected him in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Ant’s a really versatile football player,” Sarkisian said. “I think he’s a three-down player in the NFL.”
The early results suggest Sarkisian wasn’t overselling it.
Hill has already handled a starter’s workload while showing he can tackle in space, contribute in coverage and pressure quarterbacks.
For a Tennessee defense looking for young building blocks, his emergence could become far more important than one monthly award.
The next test arrives Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
Three games into his professional career, Hill already looks less like a rookie project and more like a player Tennessee can build around.
Comments
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy