Sarkisian Announces Who Will Wear The Helmet Communication Device for Texas' Defense This Season

After losing defensive signal-caller Jaylan Ford to the 2024 NFL Draft, Texas needed a new one on defense.

With the introduction of the helmet communication device to college football, defensive coordinator Pete ​​Kwiatkowski needed a leader who could effectively communicate with both his teammates and the sideline.

Enter Anthony Hill Jr., the team’s leading returning tackler, who Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian announced Thursday will wear the novel helmet communication device when the Texas defense takes the field on Saturday against Colorado State.

Hill Jr. was a revelation for the Longhorns last year at outside linebacker, earning shared Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors, but will now fill Ford’s shoes at middle linebacker. The Denton, Texas, native was seemingly a magnet to the football, recording 67 tackles (40 solo), eight tackles for loss, five sacks, two pass breakups and four quarterback hits as a true freshman. His five sacks were only a half sack short of the team lead and were more than the rest of the linebacking corps combined, who had only four and a half.

Related: Former Texas LB Jaylan Ford makes Saints' 53-man roster

With the departure of Ford and Jett Bush, Hill Jr. will partner with senior David Gbenda as the two linebackers in Kwiatkowski’s 4-2-5 scheme with either UTSA transfer Trey Moore, the 2023 AAC Defensive Player of the Year, or incoming five-star edge rusher Colin Simmons joining them if Kwiatkowski elects to put a third linebacker on the field .

This news will come as no surprise to Texas fans as the Denton Ryan product, who is on the preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Dick Butkus Award, served as the defensive signal-caller in practice as early as the spring .