Nfl Draft Steal: Morgan State Lb Erick Hunter Wows Nfl Analyst Brian Baldinger & Scouts At American Bowl Practice

Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter continues to move heads connected nan nationalist stage, earning precocious praise this week from erstwhile NFL lineman and NFL Network expert Brian Baldinger — while besides drafting beardown feedback from NFL scouts passim American Bowl week.

Baldinger, known for his play Baldy Breakdowns segments that typically dissect master players, shifted his attraction Wednesday to spotlight Hunter, 1 of nan apical protect prospects emerging from nan HBCU ranks.

Hunter is nan only HBCU subordinate invited to participate successful nan inaugural installment of nan American Bowl, an all-star showcase that will aerial connected NFL Network from Victory Field successful Lakeland, Florida, astatine 8 p.m. ET connected Thursday, Jan. 22.

During his breakdown, Baldinger urged viewers to return announcement of Morgan State’s No. 40 — Erick Hunter, besides known arsenic E40 — praising his physicality, instincts, and relentless style of play.

“He hits and cleans up, deed and run. Like, this is what he does. Like, you conscionable watch him!” Baldinger said.

The 2026 HBCU All-American has agelong been an imposing beingness connected nan gridiron, combining size, strength, and explosiveness. Baldinger, who met Hunter during American Bowl activities, emphasized conscionable really uncommon nan Bears linebacker’s traits are.

“I met him for nan American Bowl today,” Baldinger said. “ He's 6 ft 4, 235 pounds, possibly more, but watch him. He's sewage immoderate separator unreserved to him, like, hands connected him. Watch him rip and crook and move that corner. I mean, he's nan champion HBCU subordinate retired location correct now, right?”

NFL Scouts Take Notice During Strong Practice Week

NFL scouts successful attendance echoed akin evaluations pursuing a beardown week of practices. One NFC squad typical noted Hunter’s dependable emergence passim nan event.

“Erick has had an unthinkable week. Even really he was time 1 to today, he’s shown a batch retired there. Going to beryllium very engaged for nan adjacent fewer months. He’s going to get immoderate much looks successful our building for sure,” nan scout said.

Another NFC evaluator emphasized Hunter’s framework and activity skills.

“I thought Erick helped himself. Tall, agelong and a coagulated mover,” nan scout said.

Hunter backed up those evaluations connected nan field, signaling an interception connected Day 1 of believe and a walk breakup connected Day 2. Over nan people of nan FCS Showcase and American Bowl, he met pinch 25 NFL teams, further elevating his floor plan during nan pre-draft process, per source.

Production, Size, and Instincts Define Hunter’s Game

Hunter’s size unsocial doesn’t specify his game. He is simply a long, diversion linebacker pinch a beardown framework and instincts that consistently show up connected film. His crippled is defined by feel, production, and competitiveness. Returning for his last play aft an wounded successful 2023, Hunter showed clear beingness improvement, displaying a precocious shot IQ pinch beardown pre-snap consciousness and sound positioning against nan run.

He moves good successful space, is coagulated successful area coverage, and projects arsenic a existent three-down linebacker pinch nan expertise to run, chase, and lend connected passing downs. Hunter shows a earthy consciousness for sifting done traffic, timing blitzes, utilizing his magnitude to effect plays, and providing worth connected typical teams.

That well-rounded accomplishment group has made Hunter 1 of nan astir productive defenders successful Morgan State history. This past season, he was a finalist for respective prestigious honors, including:

• 2025 HBCU Player of nan Year
• 2025 Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award  
• FCS Buck Buchanan Award  

Over nan people of his career, Hunter appeared successful 45 games for nan Bears, totaling 298 tackles, 182 solo stops, 35 tackles for nonaccomplishment (133 yards), 10.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 12 passes defended, 7 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 protect touchdowns.

Hunter: ‘I’m Not Content pinch Just Being Here’

Hunter said Tuesday pinch Doug Smith during American Bowl practice, reflecting connected nan opportunity — and his mindset entering nan showcase.

“Being present is an grant and each that, but I’m not contented aliases complacent pinch conscionable being here,” Hunter told Smith. “I cognize I travel from a smaller school, truthful doing double is what I cognize is simply a sign, and connected my sheet this week. I’m happy to beryllium retired here, but I’m not conscionable contented pinch it.”

Throughout his clip astatine Morgan State, Hunter has established himself arsenic 1 of nan premier defenders successful HBCU football. His effect goes beyond nan stat sheet, fueled by a relentless centrifugal and passion for nan game.

American Bowl Opportunity to Elevate Draft Stock

Among nan messages Hunter emphasized during nan question and reply were his competitory edge, versatility, and characteristic disconnected nan field:

• “I person an infinite separator connected me. I emotion this game.”
• I conscionable want to show what I ever do best, which is tally and cover. I’m a feline that tin get gritty successful nan statement if I request to.”
• “Extremely passionate astir football. Off nan field, I play 5 instruments. I’m really into music.”
• “I’ve played successful a 4-2-5 nan most, but we’ve done everything. We’ve done 3-4. We’ve done a batch of blitzing, a batch of Cover 3. Man-to-man connected backs and tight ends, I’m really comfortable pinch arsenic well.”

With nan American Bowl approaching, Hunter has an opportunity to further solidify his position arsenic a morganatic NFL prospect. He enters Thursday nighttime pinch a spot connected his enarthrosis and a determination to beryllium he has nan devices to go a complete linebacker astatine nan adjacent level.

‘Remember nan Name’: A Prospect connected nan Rise

As Baldinger put it, nan connection is simple:

“The guy's wired nan correct way. Just retrieve nan name. Eric Hunter. Morgan State, pinch nan orangish shoes. E40. Remember him.”