Anthony Hill and Liona Lefau named to Dick Butkus Award Watchlist
Texas linebacker duo Anthony Hill and Liona Lefau have been named to the Dick Butkus Award Watchlist ahead of the 2025 season, an award given to the best linebackers in the nation each year.
[Sign up for Inside Texas TODAY and get the BEST Longhorns coverage!]
In 2024, the duo combined for 127 tackles, five forced fumbles and eight sacks as a part of one of the best defenses in the nation. Hill was a semi-finalist for the award last year, naming him one of the best 15 linebackers in the country. His lack of a spot on the finalists list was controversial for Texas fans, as Hill was named a first-team All-American but not one of the four best linebackers according to Butkus Award voters.
Hill was given the nod as the nation’s top-returning linebacker, according to PFF, and is expected to be the first linebacker off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is one of the favorites to win the Butkus.
Lefau spent the first half of the season as a rotational linebacker but broke out in the second half, moving from 16 snaps a game to playing 30 or more snaps in all but one game from Week 7 onward. Lefau had a true breakout game against Texas A&M to end the regular season, recording six tackles, including four stops in the run game, and not allowing a single catch in coverage.
Top 10
1
DJ Lagway
Latest injury update
New
2
ACC Football
Predicted order of finish
3
Most improved teams
Top 12 for 2025
Hot
4
CFB Predictions
Conference Finalists, Champs
Trending
5
SEC Football
Hardest schedule to easiest
View All
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
Email…
Subscribe to Newsletter
By clicking “Subscribe to Newsletter”, I agree to On3’s Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Lefau is vaunted for his football IQ and coverage ability and is expected to work with fellow LB Trey Moore as the Will linebacker next to Hill. While Hill and Moore are seen as pass rush savants, Lefau is expected to be a key part of the passing defense in covering tight ends, running backs and even slot receivers.
Texas has one of, if not the best, linebacker cores in the nation, and the Butkus Award voters have already taken notice. Can the Longhorns win their first Butkus since Derrick Johnson in 2004?
[Order THE LONGHORN ALPHABET FOR 15% OFF: Get your little Longhorns ready for Texas Football this Fall!]
The full 2025 Preseason Watchlist has yet to be released
You may also like
On3 image
Inside Texas Football
Notes from Texas practice No. 2 on the Longhorn offense
Joe Cook
•
31 minutes ago
Yesterday I was all over the defense, observing things like Graceson Littleton running with the ones along with transfer defensive tackles like Hero…
On3 image
Inside Texas Football
Fall Practice Day Two: Big units at DT and LB depth coming into shape
Evan Vieth
•
57 minutes ago
Aaron Butler
Inside Texas Football
Day 2: Texas practice notes and points of curiosity
Eric Nahlin
•
1 hour ago
AJ Milwee, Steve Sarkisian
Inside Texas Football
Sark’s Secret to Coaching QB Arch Manning: AJ Milwee and Michael Bimonte
Justin Wells
•
2 hours ago
Matthew Caldwell
Inside Texas Football
Matthew Caldwell and Trey Owens headline a brewing QB2 battle in Austin
Evan Vieth
•
3 hours ago
On3 image
Inside Texas Football
Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Hidden Layers of Texas’ Offense
Ian Boyd
•
5 hours ago
This deep dive uncovers nuggets about Texas’ offense and key players that most fans don’t know. From overlooked roles to overvalued positions, we…
Keynodo Hudson
Inside Texas Football
A first-stringer to start the preseason, Graceson Littleton might be what Texas needs at Star
Joe Cook
•
5 hours ago
Steve Sarkisian
Inside Texas Football
Notes and observations on Texas’ first “depth chart” of August camp
Eric Nahlin
•
7 hours ago
On3 image
Inside Texas Football
Photo Gallery: Texas takes to the Denius Fields for the first practice of the 2025 preseason
Will Gallagher
•
9 hours ago
On3 image
Inside Texas Football
Texas Football’s 2025 puzzle: Rebuilding the offense with nine new starters
Ian Boyd
•
9 hours ago
ut_fall_25_day_01-6299
Inside Texas Football
Updates from Steve Sarkisian after first fall practice
Evan Vieth
•
23 hours ago
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian addresses the media after his teams first practice of the fall…
Keynodo Hudson
Inside Texas Football
Notes on the Longhorn defense after practice one of preseason camp
Joe Cook
•
07/30/25
ut_fall_25_day_01-6231
Inside Texas Football
Initial takeaways from Texas’ first practice of 2025
Eric Nahlin
•
07/30/25
BF99D4C7-4F8E-4A72-B891-34B3100B2E25
Inside Texas Football
First Practice Report: New faces highlight first practice of the fall
Evan Vieth
•
07/30/25
texas-roster-budget-kentucky
Inside Texas Football
Texas Fall Camp Preview: Texas Edges Amongst the Best Position Groups in the Country
Eric Nahlin
•
07/30/25
Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.
Inside Texas Football
There’s still room for growth in Anthony Hill’s game
Joe Cook
•
07/30/25
Last year, Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. was one of the best linebackers in the country. A second-team All-American according to several major outlets, Hill…
Malik Muhammad
Inside Texas Football
Michael Taaffe, Manny Muhammad named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list
Joe Cook
•
07/30/25
Steve Sarkisian
Inside Texas Football
The case for Texas Longhorns optimism at each position as preseason camp opens
Joe Cook
•
07/30/25
Duane Akina
Inside Texas Football
Story Time With Uncle Duane: Coach Akina is back on the mic
RT Young
•
07/30/25
texas-linebacker-anthony-hill-explains-post-torn-baker-mayfield-jersey-red-river-rivalry
Inside Texas Football
Texas Fall Camp Preview: Anthony Hill Leads Potentially Dominant Group
Eric Nahlin
•
07/30/25
Duane Akina
Inside Texas Football
Duane Akina sets out to rebuild DBU
Ian Boyd
•
07/30/25
The Texas secondary is rebuilding the room after losing two NFL Draft picks and the staff after losing both assistant coaches. Now Duane Akina is back…
Arch Manning
Inside Texas Football
Believers and doubters clash over Texas football’s hype | The Girl Herd
Joe Cook
•
07/30/25
Jordan Washington
Inside Texas Football
TE coach Jeff Banks explains addition of Jack Endries and his fit with other players in the room
Evan Vieth
•
07/29/25
Pete Kwiatkowski
Inside Texas Football
Important Takeaways from Texas Coordinators and Coaches Media Availability
Evan Vieth
•
07/29/25
Michael Taaffe
Inside Texas Football
Texas’ coaching staff is committed to putting the best players on the field
RT Young
•
07/29/25
Go to On3 Home
About On3
About
Advertisers
Careers
Contact
Support
Customer Service
Privacy Policy
Children’s Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
On3 Connect
The On3 App for college sports fans:
Apple Store Logo
Google Play Logo
© 2025 On3 Media, Inc. All rights reserved. On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media, Inc.
Information from your device can be used to personalize your ad experience.
Do not sell or share my personal information.
