Hunt makes HCU history with pick

Jalyx Hunt became the first player from Houston Christian to be selected in an NFL draft when he went to Philadelphia at No. 94 on Friday.

Former quarterback Bailey Zappe, who played his first four seasons at HCU, was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round in 2022 after playing his final season at Western Kentucky.

The other HCU player in the NFL is Caleb Johnson, a linebacker with the Jaguars. He originally signed as a free agent with Chicago.

Hunt, an edge rusher, started his college career at Cornell and transferred to HCU after two seasons. He was the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

“He's got freaky tools in his body. He's an explosive guy. If you watch his best plays, he's doing things that are unique,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. “He can bend. He can close. He can finish. He's long. He's an extremely smart kid obviously coming from Cornell.

“You know, we feel like we got a good edge rush group. He doesn't have to come in here — we're going to develop him like we talk about.

“This is a perfect developmental guy for us because of the tools in his body and his character and work ethic, and we think we can really find something with him. That's on us. That's on how hes going to work.”