{"id":879965,"date":"2026-05-01T23:18:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T23:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/879965\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T23:18:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T23:18:28","slug":"why-titans-rookie-anthony-hill-jr-wants-to-meet-watch-tape-with-keith-bulluck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/879965\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Titans rookie Anthony Hill Jr. wants to meet, watch tape with Keith Bulluck"},"content":{"rendered":"

Choosing a new jersey number was easy for Tennessee Titans<\/a> second-round pick Anthony Hill Jr<\/a>.<\/p>\n

No. 0, what he wore at Texas, is already taken by wide receiver Calvin Ridley<\/a>. The only linebacker-appropriate number left was No. 53.<\/p>\n

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Then Hill, whose Titans<\/a> career officially began with rookie minicamp on May 1<\/a>, looked up who’d already worn that number for Tennessee.<\/p>\n

“That was one of the only numbers open, but then I did some research on the number (and saw) there was a legendary linebacker that wore it,” Hill explained to reporters<\/a> at Vanderbilt Health Football Center.<\/p>\n

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Titans hold camp for rookies and free agents at Nashville practice<\/p>\n

Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh speaks with the media before the Titans Rookie Camp Day 1 at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

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1 \/ 4<\/p>\n

Titans hold camp for rookies and free agents at Nashville practice<\/p>\n

Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh speaks with the media before the Titans Rookie Camp Day 1 at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

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2 \/ 4<\/p>\n

Titans hold camp for rookies and free agents at Nashville practice<\/p>\n

Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh speaks with the media before the Titans Rookie Camp Day 1 at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

3 \/ 4<\/p>\n

Titans hold camp for rookies and free agents at Nashville practice<\/p>\n

Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh speaks with the media before the Titans Rookie Camp Day 1 at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

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4 \/ 4<\/p>\n

Titans hold camp for rookies and free agents at Nashville practice<\/p>\n

Players and coaches hit the field during the Titans Rookie Camp Day 1 at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

That would be Keith Bulluck, who wore No. 53 for the Titans for 10 years (2000-09). He had more than 1,000 tackles, 18 sacks and 19 interceptions with the team, and was named All-Pro in 2003.<\/p>\n

“I’ve got to hold up to the tradition,” Hill said. “Just try to work hard every day and try to reach the level that he reached.”<\/p>\n

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Hill, 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, had 249 tackles, including 31.5 for loss, and 17 sacks in 40 career games with the Longhorns. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi<\/a>, who traded up from No. 69 to take Hill at No. 60 overall, described Hill as “the prototype linebacker in (new coach Robert Saleh’s) defense.”<\/p>\n

“Long, fast, violence that we always talk about. We felt some teams ahead of us, there could be a chance that he goes, so we made a move to get the guy we wanted,” Borgonzi said.<\/p>\n

The description of Hill \u2014 athletic, violent, aggressive \u2014 sounds similar to that of Bulluck, who was picked in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft out of Syracuse.<\/p>\n

Hill is hoping to one day meet Bulluck. Go over some tape, learn tricks of the trade and get advice on how he can become legendary himself.<\/p>\n

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“I hope to kind of connect with him,” Hill said. “I’m rocking his number now, so I’ve got to connect with him. See what he’s talking about, watch some highlights. Get a good feel for him.”<\/p>\n

TOP PICK: Carnell Tate ‘feels like a kid again’ at Titans rookie camp. Here’s why<\/a><\/p>\n

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com<\/a>. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1<\/a>. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What led Titans’ rookie Anthony Hill Jr. to pick No. 53 jersey<\/a><\/p>\n