AUSTIN — Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is officially being recognized as one of the best at his position in college football.

Hill Jr. was announced as a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award Monday, joining a group of 14 other players. The Butkus Award is given annually to the best linebacker in college football.

Former Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford was also a semifinalist for the award last season.

Here’s the full list of semifinalists:

Jihaab Campbell, Alabama

Deontae Lawson, Alabama

Shaun Dolac, Buffalo

Barrett Carter, Clemson

Jalon Walker, Georgia

Aiden Fisher, Indiana

Jay Higgins, Iowa

Chandler Martin, Memphis

Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss

Sean Brown, N.C. State

Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

Carson Schwesinger, UCLA

Shae Suiaunoa, Wyoming

This season, Hill Jr. has posted 28 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and one interception.

He was recently added to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the best defensive player in college football.

After the loss to Georgia, Hill Jr. said that the Longhorns are staying confident. They bounced back with a win over Vanderbilt before heading into the bye week.

“Nobody wants to lose but we’re gonna look at the film, we’re gonna get better,” Hill Jr. “Our heads are up. We’re not gonna just be sad and look all disappointed. We’re happy and we’re gonna get better and look at the film. We needed this, I feel like we need some adversity and it’s gonna be good to see how we bounce back next week.”

No. 5 Texas and Florida will kick off from Austin on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on ABC.

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Whether you’re ready for a celebration, dreading the results or eager for the election cycle to be over, it’s best not to spend election night 2024 alone. Several Austin venues will host watch parties with food, friends and foes as you get ready for the results Tuesday.

Hold hands and cross fingers at Hotel Vegas and Volstead’s watch party

Need a strong pregame for the results? The adjacent East Austin bars are teaming up to host a joint watch party with themed cocktails served all night.

Guests can watch the results roll in on big screens on the patio. There will also be televised analysis inside Volstead Lounge. Enjoy live DJs, election night games and tacos from El Borracho Tacos starting at 5 p.m.

The party is free to attend. Guests can RSVP on Facebook.

Down some patriotic shots at Star Bar’s Texas-style watch party

The West Austin bar will host a free election night watch party, Texas-style. Customers can catch election updates from open to close and snag limited-edition Quinn-Arch buttons ($3) and hats ($20) touting University of Texas quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Election results will be shown on TVs across the bar.

Enjoy some blue and red jello shots as well as pizza from VIA 313.

The party will start at 4 p.m. and run until close at 2 a.m. No ticket or RSVP is needed for the event. More information is at starbartexas.com.

Ride the emotional roller coaster at Cheer Up Charlie’s election night carnival

Cheer Up’s is bringing the Election Day feel to the Red River Cultural District. The election night extravaganza will include drag and stand-up comedy shows, tarot and astrology readings, and a petting zoo for voters needing some animal comfort.

Want to dance it out? There will be live DJs. Voters can also eat their feelings. A bake sale will be happening, alongside a sock and blanket drive for the unhoused.

The party will run from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets start at $19 and can be purchased online.

Watch the results at Travis County Republicans’ election night party

Voters are invited to swing by and catch the election results with fellow Republicans in Travis County. National news as well as the county clerk’s website will be monitored for key races. Candidates and local leaders are also expected to deliver remarks. There will also be surprise guests throughout the evening.

The event will run from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Guests must register online to get the address for the event. Security officers will check photo IDs for entrance.

Join the Travis County Democratic Party at the Driskill

Democrats from across the county will watch the election results unfold at the historic Driskill hotel. Attendees will get a chance to rub elbows with some elected officials and candidates. Who better to share the suspense with than the folks on the ballot?

The watch party will happen from 7 to 11 p.m.

Interested in attending? You can register for the event online.

AUSTIN, Texas – The tenth week of the 2024 Texas high school football season is in the books.

Check out our rankings for the tenth week of the season, which featured matchups like Bowie vs Austin High, Taylor vs LBJ, Cedar Park vs Leander, Lake Belton vs Georgetown, and the FOX 7 Game of the Week, Bastrop vs Pflugerville.