The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football’s Hill named FWAA Freshman All-American
01.16.2024 | Football
The Football Writers Association of America honored true freshman LB Anthony Hill Jr. on Tuesday.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas true freshman linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), the organization announced on Tuesday. This marks the third consecutive season in which Texas been represented on the FWAA Freshman All-America Team. Hill joins offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (2022) and wide receiver Xavier Worthy as Longhorns have earned the honor. The streak is the longest since Texas was represented in six-straight years from 2001-06.
Hill played in all 14 games for the Longhorns with six starts. The Denton, Texas native totaled 67 tackles (40 solo), eight tackles for loss, five sacks and two pass breakups as well as a forced fumble in the Big 12 Championship game against Oklahoma State. His five sacks are tied for fourth-most by a Longhorn freshman and are the third-most by a Texas true freshman, while the eight tackles for loss equaled the eighth-most for a UT freshman and sixth-most for a true freshman. He registered at least four tackles in 11 games this season with six games of six or more tackles. Hill had a breakout performance in the week two victory at No. 3 Alabama, making six tackles (four solo) with two tackles for loss and two sacks, including one on the Crimson Tide's final offensive play of the game that buried Alabama deep in their own territory. The performance earned him Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week and 247Sports True Freshman of the Week honors.
In addition to Tuesday's recognition by the FWAA, Banks was also named a Freshman All-American by ESPN and The Athletic. A semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, Hill earned a share of the Big 12 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year accolades and received honorable mention All-Big 12 honors at linebacker.
Longhorns named FWAA Freshman All-Americans (16)
2023: LB Anthony Hill Jr.*
2022: OL Kelvin Banks Jr.*
2021: WR Xavier Worthy*
2018: DB Caden Sterns*
2016: OL Zach Shackelford*
2015: LB Malik Jefferson*; OL Connor Williams*
2011: DB Quandre Diggs*
2008: S Earl Thomas
2006: QB Colt McCoy
2005: DL Brian Orakpo
2004: DL Frank Okam*
2003: OL Justin Blalock
2002: DL Rodrique Wright*
2001: LB Derrick Johnson*; K Dusty Mangum*
*Denotes true freshman
