LAS VEGAS — Five-star Denton (Tex.) Ryan linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. carefully whittled his list of suitors down to six earlier this month.
The nation’s No. 1-ranked linebacker in the On3 Consensus has visited four of his top six, including Texas, Texas A&M, USC and Oklahoma. He’ll be at Alabama for A-Day this spring and is working on a trip to Miami after Mario Cristobal phoned Hill and compelled him to stick the Hurricanes in this group.
“These are the six schools I’ve developed the best connection to,” Hill told On3. “It’s the most communication and the schools I’ve been to and that I’ve been liking.”
Cristobal and Hill’s father both have roots in South Florida. Miami is expected to host the five-star linebacker this offseason.
“The day before I dropped my top schools he called me,” Hill said of Cristobal. “He heard I was dropping my top schools and he wanted to talk to me and told me to give them a chance. I want to see more when I’m down there, but Cristobal is cool. He’s down to earth and grew up in the same area as my dad, so that was a cool connection.”
The five-star rocked USC gloves during Sunday’s championship bracket. Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch are familair with Hill dating back to their Oklahoma days.
“It’s been a little different since they got to USC,” he said. “They’re doing some stuff differently than they did at Oklahoma. They have the West Coast area now.”
“The culture fits me,” Hill added. “They’re trying to change it around and that’s really big.”
Alabama offered Hill as a freshman and he’ll finally make the trek to Tuscaloosa for the Tide’s spring game.
“I need to get down there,” Hill laughed. “I’ve talked to Coach (Nick) Saban at the school and on the phone, and he’s made it known all the things he can for me and it’s been great outside of football building a bond with him.”
Hill is a top priority for in-state Texas. While Steve Sarkisian has maintained an active role in the linebacker’s recruitment, new staff addition Tashard Choice has provided the Horns with added juice.
“It’s constant contact and that’s really a key and it’s really important,” Hill said. “Coach Sark and Coach Choice, he’s really cool. We grew up in the same area of Texas, so it’s cool to have the same sort of language and he’s easy to talk to.”
Hill returned to Texas A&M in January. The sights and sounds are familiar as his relationship continues to grow with this staff.
“We’re not even talking about football. It’s a personal level,” the No. 13-ranked player in the On3 Consensus said. “It’s a little bit scheme, but I’ve been there a lot so I know it well. I’ve been talking to the players and being around them, seeing what they think of the coaches and getting what they really think.”
Hill was also back in Norman, this time with defensive-minded Brent Venables at the helm. He’s quickly connecting with several coaches of the staff, including Venables and coordinator Ted Roof.
“It’s a lot when they show me what he produced and what he can do for me,” Hill said of Venables. “He’s down to earth and the type of things he does to work with his players. Also, talking to Coach Roof and building a bond with the coaches at the basketball game. They’re down to earth and they’ve produced so many talented players.”