Marshall University Athletics
Hunter Named Freshman All-American by Sporting News
12/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 9, 2012
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Marshall linebacker D.J. Hunter was named a Freshman All-American by Sporting News this weekend.
Hunter, a redshirt freshman from Middletown, Ohio, played in every game and started the last 11 at strongside linebacker for the Herd, piling up 102 tackles (the most among freshmen linebackers in C-USA) to go with 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
He posted four double-digit tackle games this season, including three straight against Southern Miss (11), UCF (10) and Memphis (12) and a season-high 18 in the season finale at East Carolina. Against league-leading Tulsa, he also returned a fumbled point-after attempt for two points.
Hunter is the second Herd freshman to earn a top postseason honor. Running back Kevin Grooms was named Conference USA's Freshman of the Year by the league's 12 head coaches.
Hunter and Grooms were among four Herd players voted by coaches to the C-USA All-Freshman Team, matching the most selections for any school in 2012.
