The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football’s Hill Jr., Lefau selected to Butkus Award watch list
07.30.2025 | Football
The award tributes Dick Butkus and honors the nation’s top linebacker.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football junior linebackers Anthony Hill Jr. and Liona Lefau were honored on the preseason watch list for the 2025 Butkus Award, presented annually to top linebacker in college football. Hill was a semifinalist for the award in 2024.
Longhorn Legend Derrick Johnson previously won the award in 2004 and was also a finalist in 2003, as was Sergio Kindle in 2009.
It's the second-straight year Hill has been chosen to the preseason watch list, while it's a first-time selection for Lefau. Hill has also garnered preseason watch list praise from the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Hill, a preseason First-Team All-SEC selection, started all 16 games at linebacker last season, earning second-team All-America honors by the AFCA, Associated Press, The Sporting News and Walter Camp. The Denton, Texas, product was tabbed a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Butkus awards in 2024. Hill led UT in tackles (103), tackles for loss (16.5), and forced fumbles (4), while sitting third on the squad in sacks (8). He composed three double-digit tackling performances and was credited with 0.5-or-more tackles for loss in 11 different games. Hill received national praise following his standout performance in Texas' 34-3 win over No. 18/16 Oklahoma in the Allstate Red River Rivalry on Oct. 12. He garnered Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 15), Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Oct. 16) and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week accolades (Oct. 14). Against the Sooners, Hill compiled 11 tackles (seven solo), two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pressure in Texas' win. Hill is a third-year player who has appeared in 30 games with 22 starts.
Lefau is a third-year player with 30 appearances and 10 starts. Hailing form Laie, Hawaii, Lefau saw action in all 16 games with 10 starts during the 2024 season. He totaled the fifth-most tackles on the team last season with 63 (38 solo) to go along with five tackles for a loss of 18 yards, two sacks for a loss of 12 yards, an interception, a forced fumble and three passes defended. He put together a stellar performance vs. ULM on Sept. 21, tallying seven tackles (four solo), 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack and a defensive safety. On the road vs. Vanderbilt on Oct. 26, he snared his first career interception for a six-yard return while logging three solo stops. In UT's regular season finale at Texas A&M on Nov. 30, he posted six tackles (four solo), a forced fumble and a pass break-up. In the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl vs. Arizona State on Jan. 1, he registered a career-high eight tackles (four solo).
Award semifinalists will be named Nov. 4, and finalists will be revealed Nov. 25. The winner will be announced by Dec. 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in early 2026, featured on a Big Ten Network special.
The Longhorns kick off the season on the road at Ohio State at 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Aug. 30, inside Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The game will broadcast as part of FOX's Big Noon Kickoff, and ESPN's College GameDay will broadcast live from the Ohio State University campus. College GameDay will air for three hours from 8-11 a.m. CT, hosted by Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Pat McAffee, Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit and other ESPN personalities. It will be the final show for longtime ESPN personality Lee Corso as he is set to retire following Week 1 of the 2025 season.
