Former Tennessee receiver Justin Hunter is joining the Memphis football program as a quality control coach, Hunter shared on Twitter Saturday.
First step! Thanks @MemphisFB for the opportunity!! Go Tigers!! pic.twitter.com/jSlL0D5Q7v
— Justin Hunter (@justinhunter_11) January 8, 2023
Hunter was a three-year standout at Tennessee, playing entirely under head coach Derek Dooley. The 6-foot-4 receiver showed extreme promise as a freshman and early in his second season before tearing his ACL at Florida.
The Virginia Beach native returned from his injury and shined during the 2012 season. Hunter caught 73 catches for 1,083 yards and nine touchdowns. The tall threat was Tennessee’s last 1,000 yard receiver until Cedric Tillman tallied 1,081 receiving yards in 2021.
Jalin Hyatt one-upped both this season, tallying 1,267 yards in his Biletnikoff Award winning season.
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The Tennessee Titans selected Hunter early in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft and the Vols’ star went on to have a middling NFL career. Hunter played three seasons in Nashville where he tallied eight touchdowns before bouncing around teams including Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Miami.
Hunter finished his seven-year NFL career with 1,349 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns.
With his playing days well over, Hunter is looking to get into coaching and is starting at Memphis under head coach Ryan Silverfield. Silverfield has had modest success at Memphis after taking over for now Florida State coach Mike Norvell.
The Tigers are 21-15 in Silverfield’s three years including Montgomery Bowl and First Responder Bowl victories.
