The fifth-ranked player in the state of South Carolina is West Florence safety Kelvin Hunter, who just signed with the Gamecocks. The four-star defensive back brings violence with every hit. He does not possess exceptional size, but he is a patient tackler who consistently makes plays in space. West Florence used Hunter near the line of scrimmage, and he consistently made stops at or behind the line. He tracks running backs as they look for holes and gets downhill quickly. He also displays the ability to shed blockers and make plays in the screen game. Hunter has quality closing speed that allows him to come downhill from his safety position and force negative yardage plays. Hunter can still improve in coverage, but he has good ball skills. He lacks body control in the air to make adjustments at times. His specific skill set as a line-of-scrimmage playmaker projects him to fit well as a “spur” type player. This role functions well for guys who have skills and size that put them between a linebacker and a safety.
Outlook For Hunter
Hunter was a special teams demon throughout his high school career. This will bode well for his opportunities to contribute early at South Carolina. He was used as a gunner, return man, and, most impressively, on punt block. Hunter showed the ability to routinely work through the line and secondary protection to get to the punter. In his junior season, Hunter blocked four punts. The most impressive trait that Hunter possesses is his mind. He can see and diagnose plays quickly, then react with his closing speed and ability to track ball carriers. He sees gaps to go through and follows the ball well when the offense uses play action or more advanced fakes to try and confuse defenders. Expect to see him on special teams early if he can hold his own from a strength standpoint. Antonio Allen is a great Gamecocks point of comparison and should be the model Hunter aspires to fit into.
