Fort Myers (FL) Dunbar 4-star DE/DT Derick Hunter is a national recruit and considered one of the best defensive linemen in the 2019 class. His junior season on the field at Dunbar demonstrated as much.
“I was first team All-District, felt I proved I was the top D-Lineman in 2019, which is what I want to do every time I step on the field,” Hunter said. “I had 103 tackles, 10 sacks I think, and 2 forced fumbles. We did alright (as a team), but we didn’t accomplish anything. Our goal was to win states and we didn’t accomplish that.”
Hunter was actually one of Miami’s first commits early on in the 2019 class back in June of 2017, but decommitted from Surge19 a few months back. He talked about what went into the decision to back off that pledge.
“Well, the contact from the staff kind of dropped off, I wasn’t hearing from the coaches as much,” Hunter said. “They told me before I was the #1 D-Lineman on their board in 2019 and it didn’t feel that way anymore.”
When pushed further and asked if it was former Miami DL coach Craig Kuligowski in particular that was falling off in contact, Hunter had this to say: “Not really, I have a good relationship with coach Kool, he’s always looked out for me and is a great teacher. He’s one of the reasons I’m starting to become more interested in Bama now. It was really I felt like I didn’t have any relationship with coach (Mark) Richt, and I want to have a good relationship with the head coach of the program wherever I go.”
Despite this, Hunter still has a high interest in the Canes and UM has been trying to make him a priority again. Hunter was one of new D-Line coach Jess Simpson’s first calls when he took the Miami job.
“Well, I’ve already talked to the new D-Line coach (Simpson),” said Hunter. “He reached out right when he first got hired. I like him a lot, he seems like he’s a great coach. I’m excited to get to know him better.”
Hunter recently visited FSU and then Florida for their Junior Day. In the near future, Hunter plans to try and visit Georgia, Miami, Tennessee, and Alabama as well, especially now that the Tide employ coach Kool. Hunter names those six schools and one other as his top group right now.
“Bama, Georgia, Tennessee, Penn State, FSU, Miami, and Florida,” he said.
When talking decision timetables, Hunter has a specific day in mind to make his college choice known: in January during the Under Armour All-America Game, something he’s thought about doing for a while now.
“I’ll probably wait to announce at the UA Game (Under Armour All-America Game),” Hunter said. “It’s always kind of been my dream to commit at the UA Game. I grew up watching the game from home every year with my dad and loved seeing the players pick a hat, so I’ll probably do that, have two hats and choose. I haven’t gotten an invite (to the game) yet, but if I do, I’d love to do something like that.”
And when he’s on camera announcing to the world, what is going to set that one school apart from all the others?
“The relationships I have with the coaching staff. I want to see who really wants me and is treating me as a priority. Who wants me the most, you know?”
The 6’6” 280 pounder is feeling confident going into his final year of high school and is on a mission to show the world he is one of the country’s best players.
“I just want to go out and dominate and prove I’m #1, prove I’m the best at my position,” Hunter said of his senior year. “I still have some doubters, in the rankings and stuff. At the end of the day, they don’t matter, I’m gonna perform the way I know I can and prove it on the field.”
“I was first team All-District, felt I proved I was the top D-Lineman in 2019, which is what I want to do every time I step on the field,” Hunter said. “I had 103 tackles, 10 sacks I think, and 2 forced fumbles. We did alright (as a team), but we didn’t accomplish anything. Our goal was to win states and we didn’t accomplish that.”
Hunter was actually one of Miami’s first commits early on in the 2019 class back in June of 2017, but decommitted from Surge19 a few months back. He talked about what went into the decision to back off that pledge.
“Well, the contact from the staff kind of dropped off, I wasn’t hearing from the coaches as much,” Hunter said. “They told me before I was the #1 D-Lineman on their board in 2019 and it didn’t feel that way anymore.”
When pushed further and asked if it was former Miami DL coach Craig Kuligowski in particular that was falling off in contact, Hunter had this to say: “Not really, I have a good relationship with coach Kool, he’s always looked out for me and is a great teacher. He’s one of the reasons I’m starting to become more interested in Bama now. It was really I felt like I didn’t have any relationship with coach (Mark) Richt, and I want to have a good relationship with the head coach of the program wherever I go.”
Despite this, Hunter still has a high interest in the Canes and UM has been trying to make him a priority again. Hunter was one of new D-Line coach Jess Simpson’s first calls when he took the Miami job.
“Well, I’ve already talked to the new D-Line coach (Simpson),” said Hunter. “He reached out right when he first got hired. I like him a lot, he seems like he’s a great coach. I’m excited to get to know him better.”
Hunter recently visited FSU and then Florida for their Junior Day. In the near future, Hunter plans to try and visit Georgia, Miami, Tennessee, and Alabama as well, especially now that the Tide employ coach Kool. Hunter names those six schools and one other as his top group right now.
“Bama, Georgia, Tennessee, Penn State, FSU, Miami, and Florida,” he said.
When talking decision timetables, Hunter has a specific day in mind to make his college choice known: in January during the Under Armour All-America Game, something he’s thought about doing for a while now.
“I’ll probably wait to announce at the UA Game (Under Armour All-America Game),” Hunter said. “It’s always kind of been my dream to commit at the UA Game. I grew up watching the game from home every year with my dad and loved seeing the players pick a hat, so I’ll probably do that, have two hats and choose. I haven’t gotten an invite (to the game) yet, but if I do, I’d love to do something like that.”
And when he’s on camera announcing to the world, what is going to set that one school apart from all the others?
“The relationships I have with the coaching staff. I want to see who really wants me and is treating me as a priority. Who wants me the most, you know?”
The 6’6” 280 pounder is feeling confident going into his final year of high school and is on a mission to show the world he is one of the country’s best players.
“I just want to go out and dominate and prove I’m #1, prove I’m the best at my position,” Hunter said of his senior year. “I still have some doubters, in the rankings and stuff. At the end of the day, they don’t matter, I’m gonna perform the way I know I can and prove it on the field.”
