Arch Manning may be coming into the 2025 season with a ton of hype, possibly even winning the Heisman this year. However, this might not translate the same way in the NFL, with some people believing he might not even get picked No. 1 overall should he join next year’s NFL draft.
During the “Crain & Company” podcast, co-host Jake Crain revealed which of the top 25 SEC players will be his first overall pick for 2026, and it is not Arch Manning, but his teammate, Anthony Hill Jr, whom he called a ‘homewrecker.’
“Number one, my first overall pick of the top 25 players in the SEC for 2025, I’m going Anthony Hill Jr. from Texas. He’s a home wrecker. He’ll wreck a whole game. I think he could be the first guy from the league taken uh in the draft in the NFL from the SEC,” Crain said (3:29).
“I love his versatility. I love his experience, but I love his size. He is basically Fred Warner running around. I would love to build a team and a defense around this guy. Give me Anthony Hill Jr. We’re on the same page. That’s who I had at number one. 63 240. Eight sacks a year ago,” he added.
Anthony Hill Jr. is a linebacker who is coming into his junior year at Texas. A Texas native, he started in all of the Longhorns’ 16 games for the 2024 season and impressed many with his performances as a sophomore, including getting three double-digit tackle performances.
As for Arch Manning, the quarterback is entering the 2025 season with all the pressure in the world, as many are projecting him to lead Texas to a national title, and maybe even win the Heisman enroute. This will be his first year at QB1, being the understudy for Quinn Ewers during his first two years with the Longhorns.
Anthony Hill Jr. To Lead Texas’ Linebackers This Year
Coming into the 2025 season, Texas will be fielding a group of veteran linebackers, and Anthony Hill Jr. is considered by many as the centerpiece of that elite group. He was named an All-American in 2024 and is expected to get even more individual honors coming into his junior season.
He had 113 tackles (59 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss with eight sacks and four forced fumbles and has even been called the “best linebacker in the country” by ESPN analyst Greg McElroy. He will be joined by senior Edge Trey Moore and transferees Brad Spence and Ty’Anthony Smith. Also joining is freshman Elijah Barnes.
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