Published April 17, 2012 - 1:05pm
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Tennessee wide receiver extraordinaire Justin Hunter is getting stronger and stronger since his season-ending knee injury he suffered in week three last year.
We all know what happened; we all were watching. It looked ever so painful, and it completely took the wind out of the sails of the Tennessee offense from that point on.
In the last complete game we saw Hunter play, he posted gaudy numbers against Cincinnati, with 10 catches for 156 yards and one touchdown.
It’s quite unfair when 5’10” defensive backs are covering long, athletic receivers like Hunter. Of course, he’s 6’4”, with arms the length of broomsticks that catch everything thrown his direction.
Hunter’s combination of route running, catching ability and sheer athletic freakness is something that is rarely seen at the position, and he absolutely has all those abilities.
Hunter stared the first two weeks with crazy numbers from Tennessee’s video-game-like offense in Knoxville. He caught 16 passes for 302 and two touchdowns. And he still managed to finish the season as Tennessee’s third leading receiver in just two full games played.
Hunter returns to a very talented, young and explosive offense at nearly every position. Hunter is the perfect match with fellow wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers, and both, combined with new wide receiver and JUCO transfer Cordarrelle Patterson, could make for the most talented group in the SEC next year. And we all know how good Tyler Bray is at quarterback.
Just this past weekend, Hunter and his surgically repaired knee were put to the test. Nevertheless, he hauled in three catches for 70 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown on the first possession of the day. I’d say he’s back.
Hunter has “big play” written all over him, and the entire SEC hopes Hunter will recover to his full potential so we can watch this kid play some football.
