Tony Hunt
Encyclopedia
Antonio Christopher Hunt (born November 24, 1985) is an American football
running back
for the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna of the Austrian Football League
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Penn State
.
in Alexandria, Virginia
, Hunt rushed for more than 2,000 total yards and also played linebacker
, defensive end
, and even punted
. He was named the Alexandria Sportsman Club Player-of-the-Year in 2002-03. He was also a stalwart on the track and field
team, finishing eighth in Virginia in the discus
as a junior.
Hunt originally made a verbal commitment to play football at University of Southern California
, but instead signed a letter-of-intent with Penn State upon learning of Reggie Bush
's commitment to the Trojans.
candidate in 2006, Hunt became only the fifth Nittany Lion
to rush for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and the fifth to rush for more than 3,000 career yards. http://www.imakenews.com/footballletter/e_article000693359.cfm?x=b8pRDJb,b2VyWl7g He was named Big Ten Conference
Offensive Player of the Week after a career-best 167-yard rushing game versus Temple
. http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/16002152.htm
Hunt led Penn State in rushing during the 2005 and 2004 seasons, amassing 1,047 and 777 yards respectively, earning the nickname Tony "Big Game" Hunt.
At the outset of his college career, Hunt was overshadowed by fellow running back Austin Scott, who was considered the more promising recruit, having broken many Pennsylvania
high school football records. Despite this, Hunt won the starting running back job through his work ethic, and by virtue of being a better pass blocker than Scott. http://www.gopsusports.com/Football/people/Player.cfm?rosterid=2251
Hunt was also named the MVP of the 2007 Senior Bowl
on January 27, 2007, after leading all running backs in total yards.
, 90th overall, in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL draft
. Critics and fans alike thought the move would finally give Brian Westbrook
the short-yardage back he always wanted. In his rookie season, however, Hunt saw limited playing time behind Correll Buckhalter
managing just 16 carries and one touchdown. After the Eagles acquired Lorenzo Booker
from Miami, he was pushed to fourth on the depth chart ahead of only Ryan Moats
. The Eagles had traditionally only kept three. On August 18, 2008, the Eagles official website confirmed Hunt would get reps at fullback after Jed Collins
, Jason Davis
and Luke Lawton
failed to secure the job, and Hunt's impressive preseason game against the Carolina Panthers
which he broke a 51-yard run. He was unofficially named the Eagles' starter after the other three full backs were released.
Hunt was released from the Eagles on October 14, 2008.
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna of the Austrian Football League
Austrian Football League
The Austrian Football League is the elite league of American football in Austria. The league was founded in 1984 and plays by the rules of the NCAA.-History:...
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
Early years
A standout player at T. C. Williams High SchoolT. C. Williams High School
T. C. Williams High School is a public high school in Alexandria, Virginia, named after former superintendent Thomas Chambliss Williams of Alexandria City Public Schools who served from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s...
in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, Hunt rushed for more than 2,000 total yards and also played linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, and even punted
Punter (football position)
A punter in American or Canadian football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a...
. He was named the Alexandria Sportsman Club Player-of-the-Year in 2002-03. He was also a stalwart on the track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team, finishing eighth in Virginia in the discus
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
as a junior.
Hunt originally made a verbal commitment to play football at University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, but instead signed a letter-of-intent with Penn State upon learning of Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
's commitment to the Trojans.
College career
Hunt finished his Penn State career 2nd all-time in career rushing yards with 3,320 yards and first all-time with 654 carries (5.08 avg.). http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=11511 A Doak Walker AwardDoak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
candidate in 2006, Hunt became only the fifth Nittany Lion
Nittany Lion
This article is about the Penn State mascot. For the Penn State fight song see "The Nittany Lion ".The Nittany Lion is the mascot of the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania, USA and its athletic teams. It refers to the mountain lions that once roamed near the school, and...
to rush for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and the fifth to rush for more than 3,000 career yards. http://www.imakenews.com/footballletter/e_article000693359.cfm?x=b8pRDJb,b2VyWl7g He was named Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Offensive Player of the Week after a career-best 167-yard rushing game versus Temple
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/16002152.htm
Hunt led Penn State in rushing during the 2005 and 2004 seasons, amassing 1,047 and 777 yards respectively, earning the nickname Tony "Big Game" Hunt.
At the outset of his college career, Hunt was overshadowed by fellow running back Austin Scott, who was considered the more promising recruit, having broken many Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
high school football records. Despite this, Hunt won the starting running back job through his work ethic, and by virtue of being a better pass blocker than Scott. http://www.gopsusports.com/Football/people/Player.cfm?rosterid=2251
Hunt was also named the MVP of the 2007 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
on January 27, 2007, after leading all running backs in total yards.
Philadelphia Eagles
Hunt was selected by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 90th overall, in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. Critics and fans alike thought the move would finally give Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook
Brian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
the short-yardage back he always wanted. In his rookie season, however, Hunt saw limited playing time behind Correll Buckhalter
Correll Buckhalter
Correll Buckhalter is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
managing just 16 carries and one touchdown. After the Eagles acquired Lorenzo Booker
Lorenzo Booker
Lorenzo Booker is an American football running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
from Miami, he was pushed to fourth on the depth chart ahead of only Ryan Moats
Ryan Moats
Ryan Moats is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. The Eagles had traditionally only kept three. On August 18, 2008, the Eagles official website confirmed Hunt would get reps at fullback after Jed Collins
Jed Collins
Jedidiah Gabriel "Jed" Collins is an American football fullback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
, Jason Davis
Jason Davis (American football)
Jason Sidney Arthur Davis is an American football fullback for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
and Luke Lawton
Luke Lawton
Richard Luke Lawton is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
failed to secure the job, and Hunt's impressive preseason game against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
which he broke a 51-yard run. He was unofficially named the Eagles' starter after the other three full backs were released.
Hunt was released from the Eagles on October 14, 2008.
Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna
In March 2011, Hunt was signed by the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna, an American football team in AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.