Positional Ranking: 6 out of 16
Overall Ranking: 434
Height/Weight: 6’0”/ 212 lbs
Overview: An accomplished two-sport prep star at Long Beach Poly. An all-region placekicker and a four time all-conference baseball player. Hayden Hunt came to the Colorado State Rams as place kicker but was stuck behind former Ram Jared Roberts. Was convinced to switch to punting during his redshirt year. As a redshirt freshman, Hunt won the job and held on to it for 4 years.
During his redshirt Freshman year he averaged 41.9 yards gross average, put 14 punts inside the 20 and had only four touchbacks. Earning honorable mention All-Mountain West his sophomore year, he increase his gross average by nearly two yards at 43.8 yards. He again finished with 14 punts inside the 20 and 4 touchbacks.
Hunt’s junior year was a great one. He was a Ray Guy finalist. Second team All-Mountain West. He ranked fifth in the country with a gross average of 46 yards and led the nation with a 41.96 yard net average per punt. He finished with 18 fair catches, 24 punts inside the 20 and only a single touchback.
Hunt became a first team All-Mountain West player his senior year. Had a 44.3 gross average and a 40.9 net average per punt. Had 22 punts inside the 20 and only a pair of touchbacks. Also was the holder for kicks, so there is that little bit of extra versatility.
Strengths: Four-year punter. Can dabble with rugby punts, but is better suited base punter. When punting for placement, can hit the ball with desired hang time. Consistent punter who yards per punt rarely fluctuated. Almost half his punts have been inside the 20 the last two seasons.
Weaknesses: Can be slow on his operation time (from catching the snap to kicking the ball away). Has had three blocked punts in his career. Has a bad habit of shuffling feet and taking baby steps after a low snap. A low number of fair catches.
Bottom Line: Highly experienced punter with over 200 punts under his belt. Hunt is an accomplished base punter who can kick the ball with decent distance and hang time. He will need to get a little quicker with his operation time if he wants to get a shot in the pros.
Draft Projection: Free Agent