HBCU star Erick Hunter signs UDFA deal with Detroit Lions

Former Morgan State star Erick Hunter has found an NFL home. After being one of many HBCU prospects that went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Hunter has signed an Undrafted Free Agent deal with the Detroit Lions.

Erick Hunter is signing with the Detroit Lions. #GoBears pic.twitter.com/mdWnZaIY6g

— Gerald J. Huggins II, M.A. (@Coach_HugginsII) April 26, 2026

Hunter was widely considered one of the best players in HBCU football, staying all four years at Morgan State. He delivered a highly decorated 2025 season, earning All-MEAC First Team honors along with multiple All-American selections from BOXTOROW, FCS Football Central, and Phil Steele. He was also chosen to compete in postseason showcase events such as the HBCU Legacy Bowl and The American Bowl, and was named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, HBCU Player of the Year, and the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award.

On the field, he led the MEAC with 102 total tackles, including 53 solo stops, while adding 14 tackles for loss and four sacks in 12 starts. He also contributed across the stat sheet with five quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, and an interception. One of his most notable moments came against Michael Vick’s Norfolk State Spartans, when he returned a blocked kick 90 yards for a touchdown. By the end of his career, he ranked second in Morgan State history with 298 tackles.

In an interview with HBCU Pulse Radio in March, Hunter gave a message to potential NFL Draft suitors.

“I’m a person that’s gonna handle myself as a professional. I’m gonna do anything I can to play my role and help the team win. I could be an immediate impact on special teams as well. I’m a guy who loves to learn the game of football. I can handle playbooks, and I can fit any locker room that you put me in.

He added, “The biggest thing for me is I feel like I haven’t even hit my ceiling yet. I still have so much that I know that I’m going to get better at, especially when I get those resources and more things like that. Everything I’ve done has been raw. I feel like I’m just really raw talent who has the discipline to be carved into something beautiful. I’m really excited. I know I could play in this league for sure. It’s something that I look forward to.”

Now he joins a Detroit Lions team that looks to truly find their footing as contenders in the NFC.

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