Jontrey Hunter made each of his six seasons at Georgia State count.
The Tampa, Florida, product got better each year on the field, ultimately flourishing into a very dependable, well-rounded linebacker. After spending his entire career at outside linebacker, Hunter moved inside for his final campaign.
Here, he had his best season, finishing with a team-high 96 total tackles as a Third Team All-Sun Belt selection. The 96 stops also rank eighth in a single season at Georgia State. Hunter finished his career with 234 career tackles, which ranks sixth all-time for the program.
Versatile Defender
As mentioned above, Hunter thrived in his lone season at inside linebacker. The move isn’t that easy for all guys. Hunter also came out of high school as a safety prospect, meaning he has some background playing defensive back. As you can imagine, this has had a positive impact on his coverage skills.
Hunter’s coverage skills are one of his best traits. He has the ability to keep up with both running backs and tight ends and can drop back in zone and make a play on the ball. He had four pass breakups in both 2022 and 2023. His instincts also aren’t too bad:
With the numbers as evidence, Hunter is also a tackling machine. He has great acceleration and can quickly get to the ball carrier. He’s solid in open-field situations and most of the time breaks down and wraps up. Hunter was used as a QB spy on LSU’s Jayden Daniels during their Week 12 matchup. Only an athletic LB like Hunter would be dealt this task. His athleticism and agility also create issues for offensive linemen when they’re trying to get an upfield block.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Hunter has a nose for the ball. His seven career forced fumbles are the most in GSU program history — three of those came last season.
Missing Tackles
For as many tackles as Hunter finished his college career with, there were plenty more left on the table. One of his biggest areas of improvement is to work on his angles. Often, Hunter can take the wrong angle on a play causing him to be out of position:
Perhaps he is overconfident in his speed and acceleration, but avoiding missed tackles by being a little more patient is something that can be improved as he aims to make an NFL roster. This is especially significant on special teams, which is likely where he’ll be battling for a spot.
Another downfall to Hunter’s game is he has the tendency to get caught on blocks on run plays, and a lot of this has to do with his short arms. Once engaged by an OL in tight space, he can struggle to get off the block.
Jontrey Hunter NFL Draft Projection
Hunter reportedly had a decent week at the Senior Bowl, but he only participated in two events at the Combine — the vertical and broad jump. Perhaps scouts are weary of this, but as a very experienced player, Hunter is still worth a late-round flier.
He will likely be selected in the sixth or seventh round.
