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Football MSU Athletics Communications

Hunter Earns Spot Among Elite as Finalist for 2025 HBCU Player of the Year

BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 26, 2025) -- Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter is officially in the hunt for more postseason hardware.

The redshirt senior, who was announced earlier this week as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, is also one of 10 finalists for the 2025 HBCU National Player of the Year Award — presented annually to the top player among 21 Historically Black Colleges and Universities competing at the FCS level.

Hunter, who entered the year as the MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, delivered a standout campaign. The redshirt senior led the conference with 102 tackles (53 solo) and added 14 tackles for loss and four sacks while starting all 12 games. He also recorded five quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, an interception, and produced one of the season's highlight moments with a 90-yard blocked-kick return for a touchdown against Norfolk State.

Hunter closed out his collegiate career, cementing his legacy in Baltimore, finishing ranked No. 2 on Morgan State's all-time tackles list with 298 stops — a testament to his consistency and impact on the Bears' defense.

Throughout the 2025 campaign, Hunter served as the heartbeat of the Bears' defense. A versatile playmaker who excelled at all three levels, he led Morgan State in tackles and delivered multiple momentum-shifting performances that kept the Bears in contention week after week. His blend of physicality, leadership, and football IQ made him not only the anchor of the unit but also one of the most respected defenders in the HBCU landscape.

All positions are eligible for the award. The recipient, to be selected by an eight-voter panel involved in HBCU FCS coverage, will be announced on Dec. 8 and honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.

In addition to the HBCU National Player of the Year, the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show.

Morgan State will continue to highlight Hunter's postseason journey as additional awards are announced in the coming weeks.

For the complete finalists for the 2025 HBCU National Player of the Year Award, click here.
 

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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
 
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Players Mentioned

Erick Hunter

#40 Erick Hunter

LB
6' 4"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Erick Hunter

#40 Erick Hunter

6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
LB