2025 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Chris Hunter Jr, LB, Tennessee-Martin

• Name: Chris Hunter Jr
• Position: LB
• College: University of Tennessee-Martin
• Height: 6′ 1″
• Weight: 235 lbs
• X (Twitter): @__chunter
• Instagram: @nolimitchuncho

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

I’ve played almost every sport since I was 3 and in middle school, I just played basketball and football. And in high school my football coach told me I didn’t have to pay to go to college if I played football and I could make some money professionally playing football too, and that’s what I’ve been doing since and still going at it.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

Winning the OVC championship in 2021 and winning the first playoff game in 2021 against Missouri State and doing it with my teammates and coaches and the Skyhawk family and going up there with a backup quarterback and wide receiver and a team in a great conference and ended up getting the win.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

Get an opportunity to get to the NFL and being able to make an impact on special teams and defense and see my goal through and see my goal through and being focused and ready. Go through this long thorough process and lead me to where I need to be at.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

Lamar Jackson, he’s from Broward County, Florida and I know some guys that are at UT-Martin that are from where he’s from and I feel like he would be a fun guy to hang out with and he knows a lot of the rappers I know, and I know I can vibe with him. I know we can hook up and mesh and Lamar’s got the contract and been in the league awhile and knows stuff.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

My grandmother and mother, how they hold the forefront down and while I am at school and keep pushing me to be strong and keep fighting for me and my siblings and always going to bat for me. They are the reason I am where I am today and they are the 2 strongest women i know and they are a true inspiration.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

3-4, I played in that a long time and how you do different movements up front and some guys stay, and some go and at UT Martin we run a whole bunch of different things. I’ve been in the 3-4 almost my whole career at UT Martin and it’s definitely my favorite. You don’t know where the 4th guy is at and he could drop into the secondary or blitz, you never know what is going to happen.

What should we know about Chris Hunter Jr the person?

I’m a natural born leader, compassionate, competitive about everything including Tic-Tac-Toe and marbles. I love being able to connect with different people and being the light in people’s lives and putting smiles on people’s face’s and being blessed and a Christian that follow’s in God’s footsteps and shedding light on things and being able to give advice in tough situations and give people energy.

What stands out about your film the most?

The interceptions and versatility and ability to adjust and can play Sam and Mike. I’m a versatile player who has a knack for the ball and that’s what I have pride in being a disruptor, getting to the ball and is hungry for the ball who plays on defense. I always think about a way to get the ball back and give it to our offense.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

Every challenge is different, and I’ve dealt with challenges my whole life, and nothing ever goes how you think, and I just roll with the punches and adjust going from Army to Juco to UT Martin had its challenges. And through every challenge I just keep my faith in God and believe he has a story written and in the end you will get everything you deserve and everything will be alright.

What would a team get in a player like you?

A guy from day one who is going to work his butt off from sunup to sundown. And someone who loves to compete and will do whatever it takes to win and get the job done including playing special teams.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

The camaraderie it takes to be successful in football and you have a true brotherhood from coaches to players and you have to play as one and you need the defensive line and defensive backs on the same page as linebacker’s and same thing on offense and it’s the ultimate team sport.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

LaMarion Pierce and Taylor Burton, Pierce plays cornerback, and he got to start in 9 games and didn’t give up a touchdown when he started, and he got his time and ran with it. Burton got injured in fall camp and came back in the 4th game and dominated and started imposing his will and was playing on a star-studded defensive line and was making plays and people will see that. And both guys flew under the radar that can play at the FBS level and don’t let adversity get to them.