INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. –
Jalyx Hunt is already the program's first player to earn an invite to the NFL Combine with sights set on becoming the first player drafted out of HCU as he gets his opportunity to give all 32 NFL teams a close-up look at his abilities on Thursday.
A four-day event held annually, the NFL Combine is an invitation-only event that allows scouts and decision-makers from every NFL a chance to evaluate prospects on physical, mental and medical criteria ahead of the draft in April. Hunt will be participating with all of the invited defensive ends and linebackers on day one with drills starting at 2:00 p.m.
For the 2023 season, Hunt piled up three separate all-America awards, was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year, first team all-SLC and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award. Additionally, he earned invites to both the Reese's Senior Bowl and the East/West Shrine Bowl before accepting the Senior Bowl invite and playing in the game on Feb. 3.
Hunt filled up the stat sheet this season with 46 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception with a return for a touchdown, three quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a blocked kick in 10 games.
In league play, Hunt averaged more than a sack per game with all 6.5 of his sacks coming in six games against conference opponents. The next-highest total in SLC play was four. In just two seasons, Hunt has racked up 13.5 sacks, ranking second all-time at HCU, while his five forced fumbles are tied for most by an HCU player in their career. His three sacks this season vs. Lamar is the second-most in a single game in program history.
HCU has two former players playing in the NFL with Caleb Johnson who played his third season in the league in 2023 with the Jacksonville Jaguars while former quarterback Bailey Zappe was drafted out of Western Kentucky following four seasons as the Huskies' signal caller. Zappe has been with the Patriots the last two seasons, appearing in 14 games and throwing for more than 2,000 yards and 11 touchdowns.
