Hunter to try NFL draft

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Although he admitted waiting a year might increase his stock, Wayne Hunter said last night he will skip his senior season with the University of Hawai'i football team to become eligible for the NFL draft in April.

Hunter, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound left tackle, has signed and mailed an NFL special eligibility petition that is required of non-seniors for draft.

A Radford High graduate who played at California before transferring to UH after the 1999 school year, Hunter said he told UH coach June Jones and offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh of his decision before telling anyone else.

"They pretty much told me they'd rather me stay a year," Hunter said. "But given the opportunity, they understand where I'm coming from. They're backing me up and they're supporting me. I'm happy they felt that way."

Hunter said his decision to enter the draft was for personal reasons and had no bearing on his suspension from the team's Christmas Day Hawai'i Bowl game against Tulane.

"Honestly, I think maybe if I waited a year, I probably could move up in the draft given the extra year of experience," he said. "But you gotta take the opportunity when it comes. There's always the risk of injury. That was my scariest thought."

After sitting out a year because of the transfer from California, Hunter played his sophomore year on the defensive line for UH. He was switched to offensive line in spring drills. This past season, he had 31 pancake blocks, while allowing four sacks.

Larry Goeas, a former UH lineman (1979-1982) and Hunter's financial advisor, said people familiar with analyzing talent said Hunter is comparable to Levi Jones, the 10th overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals out of Arizona State in last year's draft. Jones (6-5, 310), like Hunter, started his collegiate career on defense.

"Wayne is very athletic and it comes down to that," Goeas said.

Hunter is expected to sign with Kenny Zuckerman of Priority Sports and Entertainment as his agent on Saturday in Los Angeles. He will then be assigned a training facility and wait for an invitation to the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Once an underclassman declares his eligibility, scouts review tapes of the player to determine if an invitation is warranted.

"I feel confident I'm going to be drafted," Hunter said. "After speaking with Coach Cav (Cavanaugh), my chances of getting drafted are pretty good."