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This is Charlie Campbell’s interview with SMU defensive end Margus Hunt. Charlie is reporting live from Mobile, Ala., and he’ll be posting interviews throughout the week. If you want to see other 2013 Senior Bowl Reports, click the link. Follow me @walterfootball for updates, and stay tuned all week for tons of 2013 Senior Bowl coverage. |
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2013 Senior Bowl Interview: Margus Hunt
By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell
SMU defensive end Margus Hunt was one of the stars of the 2013 Senior Bowl weigh-in as he checked in at 6-foot-8 and 277 pounds. Hunt carried that weight extremely well and obviously is diligent in the weight room.
WalterFootball.com spoke with Hunt on media night and learned there are a plethora of teams that are interested in him. In only one night of interviews, he met with a quarter of the NFL.
“I met the Buccaneers, the Packers, the Dolphins, Bears, the Saints for a brief moment, the 49ers, the Jaguars and the Texans as well.”
An interview with Baltimore is likely to happen soon as well. Some of those interviews were said to be long sessions – the one with Tampa Bay was said to go over an hour. Hunt’s unique skill set is generating a lot of interest from both 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. At SMU, he learned to play five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense and 4-3 defensive and. He said either role would suit him for the NFL.
“At SMU, we mostly played a 3-4. In a passing down we were able to get wide and rush the passer (out of a 4-3),” said Hunt. “Learning more of the 4-3 like we are right now is definitely going to help me out in the long run.”
Hunt amassed 31 tackles, eight sacks, 11.5 tackles for a loss, one interception, two forced fumbles, two passes batted and three blocked kicks in 2012. He had a tremendous bowl game to cap off a career that featured 17 blocked kicks. Hunt recorded all three of his sacks for 2011 in SMU’s bowl game against Pittsburgh. He had 28 tackles with 7.5 tackles for a loss in 2011, too.
Hunt explained how he developed his game over last offseason to become a more consistent player as a senior.
“We changed our total approach for my senior season,” said Hunt. “I went back to my original track-and-field lifting. A lot of cleans, power lifting and olympic lifting – first and foremost. I was building up on my power. Along with extra football activities, working on pass-rush moves on the bags, whatever football drills were possible. Just getting my stamina up as well; I was running a mile before practice everyday to get the blood going and get the acrobatic work in.”
Hunt shared his thoughts as to which offensive linemen were his toughest opponents.
“The offensive guard was the guy from TCU (Blaize Foltz) and offensive tackle was Jake Matthews from Texas A&M,” said Hunt. “He was really good on his feet and blocking in space. It was tough to get by him, and with Johnny Manziel, you had to keep contain and not run around him because then [Manziel] was out of the gates.”
Provided a strong Senior Bowl performance, Hunt looks like a future first-round pick.
2013 NFL Draft Interviews:
Mike Glennon | Margus Hunt | Lane Johnson | Barrett Jones | Nick Kasa | Brandon McGee | Alex Okafor | Ryan Otten
2012 NFL Draft Interviews:
Quinton Coples | Ladarius Green | Luke Kuechly | Ronnell Lewis | Shea McClellin | Marvin McNutt | Mohamed Sanu | Ryan Tannehill | Brandon Thompson
2010 NFL Draft Interviews:
Jimmy Clausen | Myron Rolle
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