From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Morgan State LB Erick Hunter.
No. 40 ERICK HUNTER/LB MORGAN STATE (REDSHIRT SENIOR) – 6023, 220 POUNDS
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Erick Hunter 6023/220 10 1/8 33 7/8 79 3/8
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.40 N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A 33 N/A
THE GOOD
– Elite length and wingspan
– Sideline-to-sideline linebacker with excellent lateral agility
– Closes ground quickly with long strides and bursts
– Hits with good force
– Nice wrap-up tackling form, and doesn’t lose his grip on guys easily
– Consistently involved in plays outside of his gap assignment
– Fluid mover in space with loose hips and smooth transitions
– Accelerates quickly downhill or laterally
– Has good speed for the position
– Comfortable in zone drops and hook/curl responsibilities
– Can carry TE’s and RB’s in space
– Disengages from smaller blockers well
– Affects passing lanes with his long arms
– Creates turnovers (forced 7 fumbles)
– Versatility to play off-ball LB, be used as an overhang defender, and sub-package zone cover piece
– Finished second all-time in tackles in program history
– Excellent special teams experience and capabilities with high motor, athleticism, and tackling production
THE BAD
– Lean build for the position and would benefit from added lower-body mass
– Shows difficulties with stack-and-shed ability
– Anchor against offensive linemen at the second level is poor
– Struggles to shock blockers and disengage consistently
– Relies too much on avoidance over physicality
– Can overthink processing gaps and routes
– Occasional hesitation to diagnose run fits leads to late triggering
– Generally productive, but not a heavy striker
– Can fall off tackles against more powerful, stout running backs
– Has a pretty limited pass rush plan
– Mostly used as a straight-line blitzer or speed rusher
– The level of competition raises play speed, transition questions, and the physicality of NFL linemen
STATS
– 32 career starts played in a total of 43 games in 5 years at Morgan State University
– Career: 2,084 total snaps (1,624 ILB, 280 EDGE, 163 in the slot, 14 FS)
– 559 total special teams snaps (136 FG Block, 74 punt return, 83 kick coverage, 86 kick return, 144 punt coverage, 36 FG Kick )
– 298 total tackles (183 solo), 35 TFL, 48 pressures, 10.5 sacks, 12 PDs, 3 INTs, 7 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 71.6 completion percentage against, 84.9 passer rating against, 8 penalties, 1 TD allowed, 123 run stops, 38 missed tackles
– 2025: Started all 12 games
– 102 total tackles (53 solo), 14 TFL, 14 pressures, 4 sacks, 4 PDs, 1 INT, 83.3 completion percentage against, 97.1 passer rating against, 1 penalty, 1 TD allowed, 35 run stops, 10 missed tackles
– PFF: 80.0 run defense grade, 77.5 tackle grade, 88.9 pass rush grade, 70.2 coverage grade
INJURY HISTORY
– 2023: Missed all but two games due to a shoulder injury
BACKGROUND
– DOB: 2/26/2003 (23 years old)
– Went to Westlake H.S. in Capitol Heights, MD
– 2025 FCS Football Central All-American Third Team and All-MEAC First Team
– 2025 HBCU Player of the Year, Buck Buchanan, and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award Finalist
– 2023 FCS Football Central All-American Third Team and All-MEAC First Team selection
– 2023 Buck Buchanan Award Finalist
– 2022 Academic All-MEAC
– Two-year captain on his football and basketball teams
– 400m relay State Champion (2021)
– Honor Roll student
– All-County and Tri-County Orchestra
– Nickname is “E40”
– Business administration major and was expected to graduate in December 2025
– Was an elementary school mentor and volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital with physical therapy patients
– Career ambition is to play in the NFL and become a certified public accountant
– Enjoys making beats, playing piano, and playing competitive sports
– Sean Taylor is his biggest sports influence
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Erick Hunter offers all of the benefits and risks of modern linebackers. He was one of the best football players to ever come out of Morgan State University and one of the best linebackers at the FCS level in his final two seasons. He’s a lengthy, speedy athlete with excellent range and coverage capabilities. But he lacks the mass to come out of brawls in the box unscathed. His play-strength limitations and questionable diagnostic skills make him a one- or two-year project at weakside linebacker who could eventually reclaim his duties as a MIKE defender.
He’s #40 for Morgan State in all of the following clips. It doesn’t take long to find him because he’s always around the ball, especially in the run game. He comes shooting into gaps quickly to apply as much short-area force as possible into his tackling due to his lack of mass. He relies on speed and technique to do his bidding as a reliable run defender, routinely bringing guys down.
pic.twitter.com/zNmbMGagat
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 28, 2026
pic.twitter.com/h45HyRcPGl
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 28, 2026
Negatively, he doesn’t have much pop in his hands and can’t stack and shed routinely. He needs to get stronger, although his effort and leg drive are sufficient. He also doesn’t generate much shocking pop in his hands. Hunter relies heavily on his length and athleticism to get around or through guys.
As a coverage defender, he can cover a lot of ground. He occupies space in soft drops and handles his zone coverage responsibilities well. He can turn and run with tight ends and running backs consistently.
pic.twitter.com/LQCG0YI7x1
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 28, 2026
pic.twitter.com/xPFmt3eV8H
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 28, 2026
I was impressed by how quickly he diagnoses and reacts to quarterback spy plays, wrecking their play action or designed runs.
pic.twitter.com/EwEkxcLJea
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 28, 2026
I think Hunter’s experience on all different coverage, return, and blocking special-teams units can separate him from being a fringe roster player to a contributor who sees playing time. He comes off the edge well from playing outside the tackle to a wide-9 alignment, where he can have his speedy runway build-up to slip by guys.
pic.twitter.com/YQTqrJMLaf
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 28, 2026
CONCLUSION
Erick Hunter is a modern NFL linebacker prototype in terms of movement skills, but not yet in terms of play strength or processing. His coverage ability, range, and length give him a real pathway to sticking on a roster.
His success will depend heavily on building functional strength, reading and reacting more quickly, and carving out a niche in sub-packages.
He could play in Pittsburgh’s 4-2-5 looks as a dime linebacker, and as an overhang defender against spread offenses. He has the coverage ability to go against match-zone schemes, the range needed for split-safety defenses, and blitz flashes that could be useful in simulated pressure packages.
Hunter reminds me a lot of a former Alabama linebacker who has blossomed into a full-time starter in the NFL for the Houston Texans, and that’s Henry To’o To’o. Both guys are long and rangy, will never be bullies in the box, handle a lot of coverage responsibilities, and have the speed and athleticism to flow sideline-to-sideline easily.
NFL Projection: Late Day 3/UDFA
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 6.5 (Long-Term Starter)
Grade Range: 5.9 – 7.0
Games Watched: at Howard (2025), at Toledo (2025), at Norfolk (2023), at Richmond (2023)
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