Texas Star Duo Discuss What Longhorns Need to Win National Championship

During a recent appearance on the "Pivot Podcast" Anthony Hill Jr., and Colin Simmons talk about what the Texas Longhorns need to do in order to win a national championship.

Nov 30, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) reacts after recovering a fumble during the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies. The Longhorns defeated the Aggies 17-7. at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

As the Texas Longhorns look to capture their first national championship in two decades, they will have to do so this coming season with a team that is younger than what they've had over the past two seasons.

Which means for players like Anthony Hill Jr., and even Colin Simmons, they will have to step into bigger leadership roles if they hope to help the Longhorns take the next step. And while they are just now going through spring practice, both already recognize what they need to do to help Texas win a national championship.

Both discussed this during a recent appearance on the "Pivot Podcast" with ESPN analyst Ryan Clark.

"I feel like we just got to be better leaders at the end of the day," Hill said in response to Clark's response of what they need to do to help Texas reach the national title game. "There is going to be little moments ... like in that Ohio State game - that the screen we gave up before half, next year stuff like that can't happen. There were a couple busts during the season that didn't show but stuff like that can't happen going forward for us to national champions."

Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) celebrates with linebacker Barryn Sorrell (88) and linebacker Trey Moore (8) after a play during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images | Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

The margin for error is already small. But with some of the youth and inexperience that the Longhorns will spend much of the season focusing on molding into experience, the margins will be even smaller.

"Especially with this team being younger than all the other teams that just pass by," Simmons said adding to Hill's point. "With this being the youngest team possibly that we have, that leadership standpoint, that leadership role is going to be real big."

It may seem crazy to think that even as a true sophomore Simmons will be elevated into a leadership role. Yet, after the Longhorns lost several contributors from last season along the defensive line, Simmons is now one of Texas's most experienced players upfront. Which actually is convienent for the Longhorns as even as a sophomore Simmons is one of Texas's best players on defense.

As a true freshman, Simmons led Texas in sacks with nine as he also recorded 48 tackles, 14 for a loss, three forced fumbles, and an interception. The former five-star prospect lived up to that billing in Year 1 in Austin as he won the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award, in addition to being named a first-team Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman Team.

As for Hill, the rising junior is fresh off a first-team All-American season as a sophomore, a feat that he could accomplish once more by going to the NFL. He led the Longhorns in tackles last season with 113 while totaling 17 for a loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception.

He returns as one of Texas's most veteran and talented players and he will now look to lead the Longhorns toward their goal of becoming national champions.