This kid sounds like a real Mangini type to me, already an accomplished pass blocker, and at 6-2, 230, could probably play blocking FB as well. Note the comments about how he plays very well when he doesn't have the ball.... #26 Tony Hunt Senior/Senior - Tailback Height: 6-2 Weight: 230 lbs. Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia High School: T.C. Williams A former standout at T.C. Williams HS, made famous in the movie ?Remember the Titans,? this Penn State senior is quietly putting together a career that will have many saying, ?Remember Tony Hunt.? Having become just the 10th Penn State back to post 1,000 yards rushing in a season and standing within reach of becoming just the fifth to eclipse 3,000 yards on a career, Tony Hunt has neither received nor seeks the limelight that usually accompanies someone who has compiled 1,934 rushing and 2,474 all-purpose yards in his initial three years. In an era where spread formations and speedy receivers have transformed the Nittany Lion offense, Hunt is a big, physical link to the blue collar, smash-mouth style that was instrumental in Penn State?s success for decades. Hunt, according to 2005 Big Ten MVP Michael Robinson ?is what makes this offense go.? Lauded by teammates for doing the ?dirty work,? and ?playing without the ball,? he does not set personal goals, instead focusing his only concern on improving and doing what he?s asked to do to win the game. He earned the starting tailback job in 2004 by first becoming a standout blocker and then using the opportunity to burst for a 77-yard touchdown in his first start, against Akron. Having posted 1,047 yards and a 6.0 yards per carry average (second-best among the Big Ten?s 1,000-yard rushers) in 2005, he will look to become the ninth Nittany Lion to lead the team in rushing three straight seasons. A quick athlete with good size and multiple skills, Hunt stands 16th on Penn State?s career rushing yardage list, but can crack the top five with another 1,000-yard season. Considering he averaged a superb 6.0 yards per attempt last year, it?s not unreasonable to think that Hunt could have an opportunity to break Curt Warner?s career record of 3,398 rushing yards. He also has a chance to become just the sixth Nittany Lion to crack 1,000 yards twice, joining All-Americans John Cappelletti (1972-73), Curt Warner (1981-82), Blair Thomas (1987, ?89), Ki-Jana Carter (1993-94) and Curtis Enis (1996-97). Versatile and an adept pass catcher (61 receptions for 540 yards on his career), the post-season honors candidate owns seven 100-yard rushing games and uses his physical style to wear opponents down late in games (twice posting more than 50 yards in the fourth quarter last year). The talented and determined Hunt also has delivered the Lions? three longest plays from scrimmage the past two seasons, the 77-yard run against Akron in 2004, and last year, a 70-yard run vs. South Florida and a 61-yard burst at Michigan. Hunt?s junior season ended disappointingly with an ankle sprain and no carries on the first series in the FedEx Orange Bowl providing ample motivation for a strong senior campaign that once again will place his name among the top candidates for the Doak Walker Award and conference and national honors. Hunt was an All-Met selection at T.C. Williams HS, where Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson served as head coach in 1992 and ?93. Hunt is one of nine returning Nittany Lions who played prep football in metropolitan Washington, D.C. this is a preseason report.... he finished this year with over 1200 yards rushing, and can catch the ball. I'm not sure he would last until our late second round pick, but he's be great along with leon and Cedric next year I think. The thing I love is that he already is a great blocker. That is usually what holds rookie RB's back in the NFL. he coul;d contribute immediately. Sounds like a high character, smart player who puts team goals first.... has Tangini written all over him. Thoughts? BTW, he went for 150 yards against Tenn in the bowl game, and finished with a 5 yard per carry stat this year. He had a 6 YPC last year.
I don't get the feeling that a lot of teams are going to think that highly of Hunt, because he doesn't really light up the game when he's in there, and he probably won't do it in workouts much either; but he's definitely the type of player that could prove valuable. If he were there in the 3rd-4th round, I really would not hate picking him up, I do not see the downside of having a back with his talents/character on the team.
Right now he's getting projected as a mid second rounder by a lot of sites. I seriously doubt he'll be there for our late second round pick, but lots can change between now and the draft. The reason I could see the Jets going after him is his intangables. Team first humble kid that has stayed out of any trouble. That alone imo will push him up the Jets draft board. If Mangini plans to let Barlow go, this pick makes a ton of sense. Mangini refused to give Cedric or Leon much playing time until they could protect Pennington. No such coaching lag with this kid.... he's a very good pass blocker, can pick up the blitz, can catch, and play some FB for sure as well.
I would like to draft Hunt even with our first 2nd round pick that we got from Washington. I think Leon Washington can still be valuable as RB and Hunt will ad a true big back with better intagibles and gamebreaking ability than Houston
Tony Hunt is a work horse. He has an excellent read of defenses. He's only going to get better in the NFL, IMO. Whoever get's him, won't be disappointed.
Agreed. We've watched enough PSU ball to know what he can do and we need a big back. Houston isn't the answer.
My only hesitation would be the history of PSU backs (i.e., Blair Thomas; Ki-Jana Carter). I know that Larry Johnson went there too but that is one of at least a few others.
If you watched the bowl game last weekend the announcers quoted Paterno saying that Joe Pa thought he was the BEST ALL AROUND back he ever coached at PSU. You do not get a much better endorsement than that... Watching the game he runs with power, not like Larry Johnson but more along the lines of a Corey Dillon and is an EXCELLENT blocker. HE picked up blitzing LB's on 3 separate plays that allowed for completions on each play.
Larry Johnson= Last Penn state running back worth a damn! Before him, it was "The Other" Kurt Warner!!! I.E. I'm not sold on another PSU running back!
This is EXACTLY why I think Tangini will look at him hard, even for the 2.5 pick we have. So many rookie RB's don't get playing time because they can't pick up the blitz. Some of them never get good at it. Curtis was a GREAT pass blocker. If they want to dump both Barlow and Blaylock, they will need a player who can step in and start. Hunt can do that. Anyone remember that preseason game when Houston missed a block and Penny almost got killed? Houston saw his playing time plummet after that. He didn't play much again until he showed Mangini he could protect Chad. I'd be pretty happy with Leon, Cedric and Hunt for next year. Especially if we can get an ORG that can run block in this draft. Another kid I'm looking hard at is Robert Meacham, Tenn WR. He is the speed burner we don't have. I think he's going to go in the late first round, but he only got his draft projection report from the NFLPA a coup[le days ago. he said he'd declare if he got a first round projection. Having said all that, I think our biggest need is a true 3-4 DE that isn't 36 years old. kimo and Hamilton are old, and had only one sack between them. There is a thread here on another kid, Carriker, who is a beat at 315 and is a perfect 3-4 DE that should be good for 5-6 sacks, but would REALLY help our porous run defense a lot. My dream draft: Meacham, Carriker, Hunt in the first 2 rounds. Problem is, they will all likely be gone by our late second round pick.
^^ From what I've been hearing, Meacham will most likley still be there when we use our first second round pick, barring that he doesn't have some crazy combine results.
I knew little to nothing about Tony Hunt going into last week's PSU-Tenn bowl game, and I could not help but be impressed by the young man. Indeed, I missed out on all the things ThunderbirdJet was talking about, and noticed him purely for his success on the ground. I'm in love with his size, too. Leon Washington and Tony Hunt would be deadly together. I agree with the above poster that Hunt is a valid selection at #37 overall, via WAS.
We are on the same page regarding Hunt. And you are right on about Cedric Houston's inability to block, my heart dropped in that pre-season game. On 1st and Goal Tannenbaum actaully complemented Washington on his all-around improvement from mini-camp to where he is today. He mentioned his marked improvement in picking up the blitz citing a play from last weeks game that allowed for a completion. You can not help but think that Cuirtis has hjad a real hand in his development in that regard. fftopic: One reason why Curtis was used so much last year was his ability to help our horrible OL block. Teams would blitz us like crazy when he was not in there, knowing they would get to the QB. I agree with the Carrikewr pick. Reminds me a lot of Shawn Ellis, and with that comparison and a excellent combine he will probably be moving up the draft board. Nt sure he will be around for us in Rd #1, but I would take him if he is there. Regarding WR I agree with our desparate need for speed to stretch the field...and by stretching the field I mean a WR that has speed in and out of his cuts, allowing for the separation on mid - level passes (i.e. 12 to 25 yards). If we wanted a WR that could run, we could go back an get Jonathan Carter he could run straight by anyone, but try and ask him to run a pass route and he would have broken his ankles. So, with that said the WR I'm intrigued by is Rhema McKnight # 5 from Notre Dame. Speed, an above average blocker down field and he comes from a pro set offense so you know he runs pass routes. Oh Yeah! He had 2 more TD's that Smarzdjia did in '06. He has been looked over all year and I'm confident he will there in the 3rd roound. I would also really like mus to get an athletic guard or tackle to play on the right side ofhe line., Clement and Moore have been serviceable this year, but at this stage in there careers I see them both as "hold the fort guys" that add quality depth.
I like Hunt a lot. You can't just avoid a guy because of "The Penn State" thing. If we had a real coach here, Blair Thomas would have been remembered as an average, disappointing back as opposed to a mega bust. Ki-Jana Carter's knee injury was catastrophic. You can't pass up a guy who has great size and has simply gotten it done for two years. Hunt ran all over Ohio State. He's phsyical, he sees the hole, and he does all the little things. I think he's a no brainer pick if he's still around late in the second, much like Cotchery a few years ago. You don't win without smart football players. -X-
Everyone can forget about Hunt. Tangini has RUTGERS brian leonard in their sights in the 2nd round .You heard it here first
I hope they're not that misguided. Brian Leonard is the stuff of legend because he's a great character guy who moved aside. I respect his skills, but a look at his numbers and his game logs reveals a guy who really doesn't pop out at you. The proof is in the pudding. Leonard's hype is really a product of the dearth of talent that existed at Rutgers for a number of years. Barring insane workouts, I'd be shocked if he went in the first two rounds. Leonard can catch and do the little things, but he's not same level of runner that Hunt is. His receiving skills would be appreciated, but we already have Leon Washington. Leonard would be a nice pickup as a fullback with some running upside, but I wouldn't use a first day pick on a fullback. We could use upgrades at guard and tackle on our offensive line, we need a guy to take meaningful snaps away from Von Oldhoffen, and we definitely need a tight end more than we need a fullback. -X-
Leonard or Hunt at the 1st 2nd round pick would be a wasted pick maybe in the third if they are there, but if it aint Peterson,Lynch or even Bush dont pick them in the 1st 2 rounds.
You would take a guy who's coming off a terrible leg injury over a package like Tony Hunt? Where's the logic in that?
Guys like Blair Thomas and Kijana Carter are much different types of running backs then Tony Hunt. Hunt is the very rare runningback that is patient enough to wait for his block to develop and then go (something Ray Rice does incredibly well as well). In terms of running style, he can explode through the hole and when he does it's almost impossible to tackle him in the open field (watch some film, he OFTEN carries a guy or two on his back for an extra 3 or 4 yards. Also a solid blocker and pass catcher. This guy is going to be a good running back in this league, and as PF4JETS said the winner of Hunt will not be disappointed.
