An HBCU standout who finished second on Morgan State's all-time tackles list and led the MEAC in tackles as a senior before signing with Detroit.
Erick Hunter spent his college career piling up tackles at Morgan State, finishing second in program history in that category, and capped it with an All-America senior season. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft but signed with Detroit immediately after, becoming the second Morgan State player in as many years to reach the NFL.
Path to the league
A native of Capitol Heights, Maryland, Hunter was a three-sport standout at Westlake High School in Waldorf before enrolling at Morgan State. He grew into a full-time starting linebacker for the Bears and finished his career second on the program's all-time tackles list with 298 stops.
Career highlights
Hunter earned All-MEAC First Team honors and was named a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, given annually to the top defensive player in the FCS. He also picked up Stats Perform FCS Second-Team All-America and BOXTOROW HBCU All-America recognition over his college career.
2025 season recap
Hunter's senior season in 2025 was his best: he started all 12 games and led the MEAC with 102 total tackles, including 53 solo stops, adding 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft but signed with Detroit on a three-year, $3.125 million contract that included a $25,000 signing bonus.
Sources
- Morgan State Athletics: Erick Hunter signs as undrafted free agent with Detroit Lions
- ESPN: Erick Hunter player page
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Morgan State
- Hometown
- Capitol Heights, MD, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
