Whitehaven LB wants ‘team on my shoulders’
Whitehaven linebacker Tyler Hunter had his “junior moment” in the 2016 state title game.
“It was my first time in a big stadium, I was long-snapping at the time and I had a bad snap,” said Hunter. “It was just a bad snap and we had bad field position that whole first half.
“After that first snap, I got my jitters out and we played real football from there on out.”
The Tigers went on to win 12-9, holding Oakland scoreless in the second half after trailing 9-0. Hunter, then a sophomore, remembers watching the seniors take over the game and will their way to a comeback victory.
Now, as a senior captain, Hunter hopes that his presence will have a similar effect during the rematch with Oakland in the 6A state title game on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium.
A Whitehaven win would give the
Tigers their third state title since 2012. Coach Rodney Saulsberry says the biggest key for the Tigers is to stay disciplined.
“It’s just not being your own worst opponent and not making mistakes,” said Saulsberry. “Not turning the ball over. We’re playing a very solid opponent so our job is to get out of our own way and make sure we can execute.”
That’s where Hunter can make his mark.
“This go around I want to make sure I have the team on my shoulders,” Hunter said. “Hopefully we won’t be in a situation where we have to come back, but if we do, I want to make sure I take the responsibility of having the team morale boosted.”
Hunter, the son of Whitehaven principal and former football coach Vincent Hunter, says he gets his work ethic and knack for leadership from his father.
“We watched a lot of film. He would always preach about being a student of the game,” said Hunter.
His drive to get on the field led Hunter to learn how to play a number of positions. He mostly plays linebacker but can drop down to defensive end as well. He plays fullback on offense and has long-snapping experience.
“I just wanted to get on the field. I felt like I was useless on the sideline if I’m not able to contribute to my team in any way, so if coach said he needed me to play center, I’d go out there and play center,” said Hunter. “Whatever the team needed, I was just a team player so whatever the team needed I did.”