Interview: Former Louisiana Tech LB Solomon Hunter Prepping for Big Sophomore Season with Cisco

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

In all aspects of life, experience counts for something and the thought holds even more important in sports. How many times has an aging veteran been added to a roster just because of the wealth of knowledge and experience that comes with him/her? All coaches at all levels welcome with open arms a player that has been through the grind, and that is what Solomon Hunter brings with him to the field for Cisco.

Out of Roosevelt High School, Hunter signed with Louisiana Tech as part of the 2014 recruiting class. Hunter’s signing was endorsed by one of the more respected defensive coordinators in college football – Manny Diaz. Diaz liked Hunter’s game but a move from the Bulldogs in 2014 to another Bulldogs team, Mississippi State, left the Texas recruit without the coach who had recruited him and convinced him Ruston is where he needed to be for the next four years.

After redshirting in 2014, Hunter took his game and one year’s worth of Division-I development to Cisco. Hunter left Louisiana Tech somewhere around 6’2”, 210 pounds. He opened the season with his new team at middle linebacker racking up 12 stops but the team needed speed on the outside. After the Wrangler’s eight game season was in the books, Hunter had 34 tackles, one sack, three tackle for a loss, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, and two passes broken up.

The now 6’3”, 226 pound, linebacker is moving back into the middle ready to put up an All-American kind of season for Cisco. A strong season on the books and Hunter’s luster and experience is sure to make him a must-get for Division-I coaches looking to fill an immediate void on their two-deep in the 2017 recruiting class.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Hunter covering his transfer from Louisiana Tech, his freshman season at Cisco, and his offseason workouts.

Interview

Solomon, let’s get the big question out of the way first. What prompted you to transfer from Louisiana Tech to Cisco?

“My mom had a stroke. I made the choice to come home and help out, help my dad out. That was pretty much it. My grades got low when that happened. I never really had a deep connection with Louisiana Tech. When Coach Diaz left, that is when I wanted to leave. He recruited me. I thought he was going to stay but he changed schools.”

What are your strengths on the field at this point in your career as a linebacker?

“I feel like my quickness and speed, my sideline to sideline speed. I’m good at trucking running backs down. I get a lot of tackles for a loss at inside linebacker. I like to meet running backs in the backfield. I am a playmaker.”

Which position is more natural for you, inside or outside linebacker?

“Since I have played both I would say inside linebacker. I can play both inside about outside linebacker positions, but inside is more natural for me.”

What are you working on in the offseason to prepare for your sophomore season?

“For me, I’m just working on getting bigger. I’m not trying to add a lot weight but getting more muscle on my frame. I’m also working on my speed, my agility, and my footwork. I have a big summer ahead of me.”

Have you maxed out in any of the primary football lifts lately?

“I got 350 on bench, 285 on power clean, but I can’t remember my squat. I think it was around 500 to 510. We did all of that back in December.”

What are your goals for the 2016 football season?

“I’m planning on being an All-American. I feel confident in that. I was at inside linebacker last year for one game and I had 12 tackles, three were tackles for a loss. I’m moving back to the inside. I’ve been at middle linebacker all spring, the coaches love me there. They are keeping me there.”

Did you have any offers extended to you after your freshman season was completed?

“I had five but I would have had to leave in December. I have a lot of Power Five (Conference) schools calling now. I’m looking forward to the summer and meeting some of the coaches. So far, Central Florida, Texas-San Antonio (UTSA), and UMass have been showing interest off my spring highlight reel.”

You’ve been through the recruiting process before and are no stranger on what to look for when making your final decision. This time around what are the main factors you will consider in choosing a college?

“Basically it is all on how I feel at the school and with the coaching staff. How badly does the school want me is pretty much the main things. I want to be somewhere I know I can play. I will look at how their scheme fits me, stuff like that. I want to go somewhere I know I can make plays.”

Are you taking any unofficial visits this offseason?

“I might but it depends on money. I’m taking extra summer classes. It all depends on how it all works out. I’m focusing a lot on school this summer.”

Is there a NFL player you model your game after?

“I model my game after Telvin Smith (Jaguars – Florida State) and Myles Jack (Jaguars – UCLA). They are two linebackers I’ve looked up to since my senior year. I’ve looked up to them since I started playing linebacker my senior year. Smith, he’s explosive and a speedy linebacker. I think he’s about my size at 6-3, 218, in college. He is a similar size and I think our play is similar. Jack, he’s a playmaker. I model my game after those two.”

What do you want to major in when you go to a four-year college?

“Either kinesiology or graphic design. I already know how to do edits and a lot of graphic design work.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“I’d say the atmosphere and making big plays. I love the hype. Rival games are my favorite part of the game.”

Solomon, thanks for your time today and good luck with your offseason workouts preparing for your sophomore season.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Cisco junior college; No. 20 Solomon Hunter pre-game warm-ups.

Photo credit: Hunter family; Solomon Hunter off campus.

Photo credit:  twitter.com; No. 20 Solomon Hunter gets another tackle.