Danielle Hunter DE/LB LSU #94
Wt: 252
Size/Athleticism: Has everything you could possible ask for in terms of physical tools. Freakish blend of length, strength and athleticism. Really impressive upper body strength to press off linemen who start to get into his chest.
Run Defense: Has the strength to anchor and does a nice job setting the edge. A little sloppy off the snap and gets too high at times, but he’s strong enough and flexible enough to recover. Upper body strength allows him to shed blocks and take off in pursuit. Fast enough to make some plays in pursuit.
Pass-Rush: Very limited obvious production (1.5 sacks) but more productive on tape than the raw stats show. Can get to the quarterback with a range of techniques. Explosive off the edge, but needs to do a better job anticipating the snap count. Does a nice job getting his long arms into passing lanes.
Versatility: Easy to envision him as a 4-3 end or 3-4 linebacker. He’s explosive enough to be utilized as a pass-rusher, but also strong enough to be a true three-down lineman. Limited experience dropping into space, but he shows enough athleticism to develop in that area.
Intangibles: Praised by coaches as a hard worker. Dominates in the weight room.
Durability: No known issues.
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Overview: Hunter is a polarizing figure, depending on if you choose to focus on his raw technique or his ridiculous physical tools. I’m in the camp that believes his incredible upside can be reached with some minor tweaks to his game. What I find most encouraging is the fact that when he’s beat, it’s often easy to identify the mistake and it’s usually a very fixable issue. He is already dominant against the run, and has room for significant growth as a pass-rusher. He’s a prototypical 4-3 end, but could easily shift to playing standing up in 3-4 scheme.
