Texas Longhorns Return Elite Linebacker Duo to Anchor Dominant Defense in 2025 and Fuel Their National Championship Aspirations
As the Texas Longhorns prepare for one of the most anticipated football seasons in recent program history, much of the national focus will inevitably land on the offense—especially with Arch Manning taking the reins at quarterback. However, anyone looking closely at the 2025 Longhorns knows that the team’s true strength may lie on the other side of the ball, where Texas returns two of the best inside linebackers in all of college football. This duo not only gives Texas a defensive identity but may very well be the foundation upon which a national title run is built.
The return of Jaylan Ford and Anthony Hill Jr. is a massive development for defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and head coach Steve Sarkisian. Ford, a seasoned veteran with elite instincts and leadership, enters his fifth season in the program with a reputation as one of the smartest and most productive linebackers in the nation. Hill, meanwhile, is a former five-star recruit whose explosiveness, speed, and physicality made an immediate impact last season. Together, they form a tandem that combines experience with athleticism, and intelligence with intensity—everything you could want in the heart of a defense.
Ford has already made a name for himself as one of the most consistent linebackers in college football. Over the past two seasons, he has been a tackling machine, flying sideline to sideline, diagnosing plays, and rarely missing an assignment. He led the Longhorns in tackles during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns and has continued to earn accolades for his leadership and football IQ. He’s a coach on the field, trusted by the staff to make pre-snap adjustments and keep the unit organized regardless of what the opposing offense throws at them. He is often referred to by teammates as the “quarterback of the defense,” and it’s a role he relishes.
Hill, on the other hand, brings a different kind of presence—explosive, violent, and fast. After flashing brilliance in his freshman season, he fully broke out in 2024, becoming a disruptive force in both run defense and pass rush situations. He’s a versatile weapon, capable of lining up on the edge, blitzing from depth, or dropping into coverage against tight ends and running backs. His speed is game-changing; his instincts are developing rapidly, and his ceiling appears limitless. Now entering his junior year, Hill looks poised to evolve from a budding star into a bona fide national defensive standout.
Their skill sets complement each other perfectly. Ford’s strength lies in his awareness and reliability. He takes excellent angles to the ball, rarely gets caught out of position, and has a knack for forcing turnovers at critical moments. He’s one of those players who always seems to be in the right place at the right time—not because of luck, but because of film study, anticipation, and elite football intelligence. Hill, by contrast, thrives in chaos. He’s a downhill missile who can blow up a pulling guard, shoot through a gap before a lineman can react, or track down a scrambling quarterback with a burst that few linebackers possess.
This blend of skill has elevated the Texas defense into one of the most balanced units in the SEC, and potentially in the nation. While defensive lines and secondaries tend to get the headlines, it’s often the linebacker corps that determines whether a defense can control the middle of the field and adjust to modern, spread-out offensive schemes. In that regard, Ford and Hill give Texas a rare advantage. They’re good enough to erase short passing games, hold up against power runs, and make game-changing plays in third-and-medium situations where mobility and decision-making are key.
And beyond the Xs and Os, there’s something intangible that this linebacker duo brings to the table—swagger. Ford, with his calm, calculating demeanor, leads by example. He’s been through the highs and lows of the program and knows what it takes to win in the SEC. Hill, more vocal and animated, injects energy into every snap. The two push each other in practice, challenge the rest of the defense to match their intensity, and set the tone for the team’s identity on that side of the ball. When they’re flying around and making plays, it lifts the entire unit.
Coaches around the program have raved about their impact, not just on game day, but in preparation. Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has often noted that having players like Ford and Hill makes game planning easier. They can handle more complex assignments, disguise coverages, and communicate across the front seven in a way that allows the rest of the defense to play fast and confidently. In an era where offenses are evolving rapidly and tempo is king, having linebackers who can think and react without hesitation is invaluable.
Their presence is also critical given the makeup of Texas’ 2025 schedule. The Longhorns face a daunting slate in their second year in the SEC, including matchups with Alabama, LSU, and Georgia. These are physical teams with elite offensive talent, and the margin for error will be razor-thin. Against such competition, having two All-American-caliber inside linebackers could be the difference between a 10-win season and a College Football Playoff berth.
What makes this even more important is how well the rest of the defense is positioned around them. Texas returns significant talent along the defensive line, including pass rushers like Ethan Burke and Alfred Collins, who can pressure quarterbacks and keep offensive lines from climbing to the second level. The secondary, while still relatively young, has promising players like Malik Muhammad and Terrance Brooks. But in the middle, it’s Ford and Hill who stabilize the unit. They’re the glue that holds everything together—calling out protections, adjusting gaps, and closing off the easy throws and runs that offenses often rely on to get in rhythm.
NFL scouts have taken notice, too. Both Ford and Hill are projected to be high draft picks, with Hill in particular drawing comparisons to recent early-round stars due to his athleticism and versatility. Ford’s leadership, tackling production, and cerebral game make him an ideal candidate for a team looking for a plug-and-play linebacker who can contribute immediately at the next level. Their decision to return for another year in Austin rather than enter the 2025 NFL Draft speaks volumes about their belief in what Texas is building and their desire to compete for a national championship.
That kind of leadership is contagious. It filters down to the younger players, who see how seriously Ford and Hill take their preparation, and it creates a culture of accountability and excellence that’s been missing at times in past Longhorn teams. It’s one thing to have talent—it’s another to have experienced, vocal, and selfless players leading the charge. Ford and Hill have become that for Texas.
The coaching staff has leaned into that, designing packages that maximize their strengths. Expect to see more multiple linebacker sets, exotic blitzes that disguise who’s coming and who’s dropping, and creative alignments that use Hill’s edge speed and Ford’s coverage ability to throw offenses off balance. In an SEC that demands defensive flexibility, the Longhorns now have the chess pieces to counter nearly any offensive look.
As the season draws closer, the hype around Texas is beginning to swell. Arch Manning will command headlines. The receiving corps will put up big numbers. But behind the scenes, it’s the defense—specifically this linebacker duo—that could be the real engine driving the Longhorns’ success. They are the leaders, the enforcers, and the playmakers who give Texas the backbone required to compete for championships.
In a sport where explosive offenses often dominate the conversation, it’s easy to forget how crucial elite linebacker play still is. But come fall Saturdays, when Jaylan Ford is diagnosing a play before the snap and Anthony Hill is flying into the backfield to make a tackle for loss, nobody will be forgetting. They’re not just two of the best inside linebackers in college football—they’re two of the most important players on a team with legitimate national title dreams.
The Texas Longhorns have star power across the board going into 2025, but if they’re going to climb the mountain and hoist a trophy, they’ll need their defense to lead the way. And in that defense, Ford and Hill stand at the center—not just physically, but spiritually and strategically. Their return changes everything. Their presence raises the ceiling. And if they play the way they’re capable of, Texas might finally be ready to turn potential into legacy.
