Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. leaned back in his chair atop a podium in a ballroom at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine, exuding confidence as he addressed a group of reporters. Hill spent 30 minutes reflecting on his team’s accomplishment of reaching the College Football Playoff Semifinal. On Friday, Hill’s Longhorns will face eighth-seeded Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, a game held about 30 minutes away from his hometown of Denton.
This milestone marked the second consecutive year that Texas has reached the playoff during Hill’s career, serving as a testament to his decision to switch his commitment from Texas A&M to Texas. When asked if he felt he made the right choice, Hill responded with a smile, saying, “Do I have to say anything? I mean, I feel like I made the right decision. Look where I’m at.”
Initially, Hill was a highly coveted recruit, a five-star prospect expected to fill a key position for Texas A&M. He had committed to the Aggies in July 2022, joining what was considered the highest-ranked recruiting class in modern football history, according to 247Sports.com. However, A&M’s 2022 season did not live up to expectations, as the team finished with a disappointing 5-7 record, including an upset loss to Appalachian State in their second game of the season. This marked the beginning of a decline that culminated in a record-breaking contract buyout for head coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff.
Before the situation fully unraveled in College Station, Hill decided to decommit from A&M in November 2022 and committed to the Texas Longhorns a month later. Over the next two years, Hill excelled in Austin, recording 174 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks while helping the Longhorns secure consecutive playoff appearances.
Despite the significant impact of his decision, Hill preferred not to dwell on his decommitment. “Decommitting, I want to leave that in the past,” he stated.
In Hill’s absence, Texas A&M turned to Taurean York, a linebacker from Temple who has also performed well. As a Day 1 starter, York has recorded 156 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks over two seasons. Hill, who has known York since their high school days, spoke highly of his former counterpart’s performance, particularly during their recent matchup at Kyle Field. Hill described York as “playing fast” and noted that it was “cool” to see someone he had known for so long succeeding at such a high level.
Hill also reflected on his own experience playing at Kyle Field, a venue he once envisioned as his home stadium. “Playing at Kyle Field was crazy. I can’t lie, the atmosphere was jumping,” Hill said. “It was really cool to play in that stadium, of course after decommitting from there. It was fun.”
The game marked a full-circle moment for Hill, who now stands firmly behind his decision to join the Longhorns and continue to build on his successful college football career.