The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 1/1 Football’s Hill recognized as Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week
10.16.2024 | Football
The sophomore linebacker was named the Lott Trophy Player of the Week on Wednesday.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas football sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was named the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation announced Wednesday. In addition to being recognized as the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week, Hill garnered Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Hill entered the 2024 season on preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Dick Butkus Award.
The Denton, Texas, native powered UT's defense in No. 1/1 Texas' 34-3 win over No. 18/16 Oklahoma on Oct. 12. With the victory, Texas has started the season 6-0 for the first time since 2009.
Hill compiled 11 tackles (seven solo), two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pressure in Texas' win. Notching his second double-digit tackling effort of his career and season, Hill had his second career forced fumble while matching his career highs in tackles with 11 and sacks with two while tallying a career high 3.5 tackles for loss. It was Hill's fourth-straight game with a sack and his 10th with a tackle for loss. Hill's forced fumble came with less than two minutes to go in the first half and Texas leading 14-3. The Longhorns recovered it at the Sooners' 43-yard line and scored on the next offensive play on a 43-yard run to extend to 21-3. His first tackle for loss came prior to that in the second quarter as Oklahoma faced a 3rd-and-2 near midfield, which forced a punt. His next tackle for loss came on the first drive of the third quarter on 2nd-and-3 and was the first of consecutive no gains to force another punt. His first sack came on the first drive of the fourth quarter with the Sooners facing a 1st-and-20 at their 43. It added a loss of six yards to that, and two plays later he secured his second sack on third down for a loss of two yards to force another punt. Hill's quarterback hurry was also impactful as it helped hold Oklahoma to a field goal on their third possession of the game by forcing an incompletion on 3rd-and-6 after they had reached the Texas 23-yard line. That helped ensure a team defensive effort that kept the Sooners out of the end zone for the game. The Texas defense has allowed just 38 total points through six games, its fewest since 1964 (30). The Longhorns lead the nation in both scoring defense (6.3) and total defense (229.7) and rank second in pass efficiency defense (91.40), passing yards allowed (126.0) and red zone defense (.571).
Hill leads a dominant Texas defense in several categories this season, including total tackles (42.0), tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (4.5). In two seasons (20 games) on the Forty Acres, Hill has accumulated 109 total tackles (59 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, three pass break-ups and two forced fumbles.
Hill and Texas square off with No. 5/4 Georgia at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 19, inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will broadcast on ABC with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline) and Katie George (sideline) on the call. ESPN's College GameDay will be on the University of Texas campus for the 10th time on Saturday. The show will air for three hours from 8 to 11 a.m. CT, hosted by Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and other ESPN personalities.
