After trading back into the second round for the Texas standout, Anthony Hill Jr. embraces the pressure of donning a legendary jersey to anchor Robert Saleh’s new defense.
The Tennessee Titans had the chance to take either Sonny Styles or Arvell Reese at No. 4, but went with a different Ohio State player instead.
Jeremiyah Love went at No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals, so the Titans drafted Carnell Tate.
While a linebacker had not been drafted that high since 2009, there was a strong case for Tennessee to pick Styles. He fits the build of a linebacker similar to Fred Warner that Robert Saleh has had expertise with on his previous defenses.
The Tate pick made sense considering Mike Borgonzi's comments at the NFL Owners Meetings about taking the best player available. Tate was absolutely the best player on the board once Love was selected at No. 3.
While that may be true, the Titans still needed to find a middle linebacker for Saleh's defense. Outside of Styles, they got the next best thing.
The Titans traded back into the second round to take Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. at No. 60. He tested well at the NFL Combine, with similar results to Styles.
Styles had a 4.46 40-yard dash, 43.5-inch vertical and 11-foot-2 broad jump. Hill ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, with a 37-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad jump.
Hill should give Saleh what he needs in a middle linebacker, and he has now chosen his number. Hill went with a number that many Titans fans understand the significance of.
The linebacker decided to pick No. 53, which belonged to Titans legend Keith Bulluck, the man that former Voice of the Titans Mike Keith dubbed "Mr. Monday Night."
According to Titans Insider Jim Wyatt, Hill has done his research on Bulluck and is willing to uphold that tradition of great linebacker play that comes with it.
"I did some research on the number, and I (saw) there was a legendary linebacker that wore it," Hill said. "So now, I've got to hold up to the tradition. So, I'm going to just try to work hard every day and try to just reach the level that he reached."
Hill hasn't heard from Bulluck yet, but expects to and is preparing to watch more of his highlights to learn more about him.
"I hope to connect with him, get to talk with him," Hill said of Bulluck. "I'm rocking his number now, so I've got to connect with him and see what he's all about. Watch some highlights and kind of get a good feel for him."
Bulluck fit the nickname Keith gave him very well. He was must-see-TV.
He played for the Titans from 2000-09, recording 1,078 total tackles, 61 TFLs, 19 interceptions and 18 sacks. In 2003, he made the Pro Bowl and was a First-Team All-Pro.
Bulluck left his mark on the franchise, ending with the fourth-most TFLs (61) in Titans' history. Jeffrey Simmons (66), Harold Landry (70) and Jurrell Casey (84) are the only ones ahead of him.
With the No. 53 jersey comes great responsibility. It'll be up to Hill to see if he can live up to the legacy of "Mr. Monday Night" himself.