NASHVILLE – Anthony Hill Jr. wore No. 0 at the University of Texas.
When the rookie linebacker joined the Titans at the start of rookie camp, he didn't have lot of options to choose from when it came to jersey numbers.
He ended up with No. 53.
"I did some research on the number, and I (saw) there was a legendary linebacker that wore it," Hill said. "So now, I've got to hold up to the tradition. So, I'm going to just try to work hard every day and try to just reach the level that he reached."
Hill, speaking over the weekend at the team's rookie minicamp, was referring to Keith Bulluck, a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame after being a standout from 2000-09 with the Titans. Bulluck, known as "Mr. Monday Night" by many for his ability to rise to the occasion, recorded 1,029 tackles, 18 sacks and 21 interceptions en route to being a three-time All-Pro performer.
"I hope to connect with him, get to talk with him," Hill said of Bulluck. "I'm rocking his number now, so I've got to connect with him and see what he's all about. Watch some highlights and kind of get a good feel for him."
The Titans moved up in the draft to select Hill in the second round, with the 60th overall pick.
In Tennessee, Hill will look to make a name for himself with the Titans.
With the Longhorns, the 6-foot-2, 238-pound Hill was a second-team Associated Press All-American two years in a row for the Longhorns. In 2025, Hill tallied 69 tackles, four sacks and seven tackles for a loss while earning the honor in a year when he was also finalist for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's top linebacker. In 2024, Hill earned second-team AP All-American honors after leading the team with 113 tackles, eight sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss.
"It's been surreal," Hill said of being in town for rookie minicamp, and the official start of his NFL career. "It's kind of crazy that I'm in the NFL now. I'm getting to see some of these guys I grew up watching and getting a jersey, getting to go out there and get some work in with some of the other guys. It was pretty cool."
Hill knows he has a way to go to get ready to play in the NFL, and to be as productive as he was in college.
In three college seasons, Hill played in 40 games and accumulated 249 tackles, seven sacks and 31.5 tackles for a loss.
But he's eager to get started, along with the other members of the eight-man draft class.
"Right now, I'm just trying to show that I'm a hard worker and I'm willing to learn," Hill said. "So right now, that's really all I've been focused on is to continue to work hard, continue to get better every day and just learn.
"We just want to continue to just keep working hard. When we get with the group, we just want to fit in and kind of try to help set a new standard. We got a whole new staff. I know everything's new and just the vibe I've been getting from some of the vets is that they're a hard-working group. They want to work hard and have fun. So just try to work hard and have fun and kind of find my own role, carve my own role into the team."
