Career: All-America Honorable Mention from Phil Steele in 2021 … Three-time All-Sun Belt selection, with first-team honors in 2020 and 2021 … Arrived at App State as a defensive lineman before switching to offense during the 2017 season, moved from right guard to center before the 2021 season and ended App State career with 52 career starts (including 46 in a row to end career) … Played in 64 career games … Captain as part of an offensive line that was one of 13 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award in 2021 after being a top-15 line in 2018 and 2019 … In four seasons as a starter, App State ranked 35th (2021), seventh (2020), 16th (2019) and 14th (2018) in rushing yards per game while ranking 11th (2021), 40th (2020), 13th (2019) and 21st (2018) in sacks allowed per game … Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy watch lists … In six seasons in Boone, App State went 62-17 with four Sun Belt titles (2016-19), an additional Sun Belt East Division title (2021) and five bowl wins (2016-20).
2021: All-America Honorable Mention from Phil Steele and first-team All-Sun Belt … Team captain started all 14 games at center and had 47 knockdown blocks … With App State’s line being a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, helped Mountaineers allow only 1.2 sacks per game (tied for the 1th-best total nationally) and average 34.5 points a game (23rd-best nationally) … From PFF College, run-blocking grade of 82.6 ranked No. 2 among Group of Five centers and 972 snaps ranked No. 7 among FBS centers … Graded out at 79 percent from App State's staff ... Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy watch lists … All Group of Five starting lineup (at center) from College Football America.
2020: First-team All-Sun Belt from the league and Phil Steele and a second-team All-Sun Belt pick from PFF … Started all 12 games at right guard … Led the Mountaineers in knockdown blocks after posting 68 during the regular season … Helped App State rank seventh nationally by rushing for 264.9 yards per game, including 500 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl win against North Texas … Outland Trophy watch list in 2020 preseason.
2019: Second-team All-Sun Belt from the league and third-team All-Sun Belt via PFF College … Started all 14 games at right guard … Helped App State rank in the top 25 nationally by rushing for 231.4 yards per game and allowing just 18 sacks … Helped App State’s offensive line rank as a top-15 unit nationally on the Joe Moore Award Honor Roll … Recognized as a PFF College weekly All-Sun Belt performer following games against Louisiana and South Carolina.
2018: Played in all 13 games at right guard and started 12 times after moving to offense from the defensive line in the offseason … Also contributed on punt coverage … Key figure on a line that ranked in the top 25 nationally in both rushing yards per game (No. 14 at 240.4) and fewest sacks allowed (No. 20 at 18) for the fifth straight year … Mountaineers rushed for more than 250 yards against Gardner-Webb (432), South Alabama (348), Louisiana (266) and Coastal Carolina (278). App State allowed no sacks against South Alabama, Louisiana and Middle Tennessee … Mountaineers had at least 500 total yards against Gardner-Webb (692), South Alabama (517) and Georgia State (524).
2017: Appeared in 11 games and switched from defensive line to tight end in the Mountaineers’ final three games … Also contributed on special teams, notably in punt protection … Made his college debut at Georgia and had two tackles against Coastal Carolina … First appeared as a blocking tight end at Georgia State, where App State rushed for 323 yards. The Mountaineers rushed for 357 and 327 yards in their final two games.
2016: Redshirted
High School: Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports ... All-conference honoree ... Major cog in West Forsyth defense that surrendered less than 20 points per game as a senior ... Helped lead team to 10-4 record, a share of Central Piedmont 4A conference championship, an appearance in the North Carolina 4-AA regional semifinals and a No. 19 overall state ranking in 2015 ... Helped lead N.C. to a win over South Carolina in 2015 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas ... Coached by Adrian Snow ... Chose App State over Toledo, Navy, Army West Point, Bowling Green and Miami (Ohio).
Personal: Full name is John Luther Hunter III … Son of Amara Hunter … Has one sibling: Justiss … Enjoys playing football and basketball … Father, John, played football for Bowling Green and is the running backs coach at Wake Forest.
