WASHINGTON (October 30, 2024) - Family is always at the forefront of Jarett Hunter's (Mineral, Va.) thoughts. 
Whether dodging tackles, making long runs or giving a phone interview, the Howard University graduate running back holds his family close to his heart. Before and after games, they offer him plenty of tough love, such as reminding him to stay humble in victory and resilient in defeat and laughter, often sharing inside jokes and funny anecdotes. During games, their support—especially from his parents, Stacy and Tony—drives him to chase his dream of playing professionally.
"I wanted to wish my mom a happy birthday even though I know this will run after her birthday," Hunter said. "My parents make it to every home game and it is funny; the older I get, the more protective I become. I understand the lessons they tried to teach me growing up. They pour into me all the time and made me who I am today and I am very appreciative."
Hunter's older brothers, Andre and Anthony, instilled tenacity and toughness in him, often pushing him to play through the pain and never give up. His younger sister, Kyla, never allows Hunter to get comfortable. She keeps him grounded after each game by highlighting ways she felt he could have been better, often pointing out missed opportunities and areas for improvement.
"My brothers are always looking out for me," Hunter said. "They always told me to play through the contact, so if I look unfazed on the field, they are not my brothers. My sister always supports me and has my back. She is always making sure I am good. You can never replace them."
Hunter's dad was his AAU basketball coach for several years and he had hoop dreams before discovering his football gifts would earn him an opportunity to attend college for free. Hunter still dabbles in basketball, but he is entirely focused on football.
His family has had plenty to cheer about as Hunter has enjoyed a memorable career for the Bison. Hunter's most significant accomplishment was earning his degree in sports management. Then, they celebrated with Hunter and his Howard teammates as they won consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season championships and played in the Cricket Celebration Bowl last year.
Hunter has already been selected to Reese's Senior Bowl Watch list this season, named to the 2024 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List and the 2024 Black College Football Player of the Year watch list. Hunter received MEAC Offensive Preseason Player of the Year and teammate Kenny Gallop Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) claimed Defensive Preseason Player of the Year, Howard's first time in recent history and nominated to the HBCU+FCS National POY Award Preseason Watch List.
"It's hard to think about all of that, especially being in the midst of my season and being focused on helping us accomplish our goals," Hunter said. "I am grateful for the people around me and my support system. Everything I accomplished has been because of them. Being able to make some of the watch lists lets everybody know that HBCUs are up on that level. I am also happy that I was recognized for the work that I have done. The goal is to make the actual games, not just the lists."
Hunter does not have to look far for inspiration, as his former teammates from last season, Ian Wheeler, who is a member of the Chicago Bears, and Anim Dankwah, who played in the Senior Bowl last season, continue to stay connected to the Howard program. They each reached out to Hunter to congratulate him for being selected to the numerous watch lists.
Those congratulatory messages were rewarding for Hunter, but they validated his hard work during the hot summer months. With a focused and determined approach to improving his overall game, Hunter worked on his speed, strength and balance. He spent time balancing on a medicine ball, catching passes and putting himself in awkward positions to improve his flexibility. He also incorporated yoga into his training, working with Debby Tanneyhill to help soften the impact of tackles in positions where the body is not naturally meant to bend.
While Hunter is driven to succeed for himself and his family, he is also mindful of the eyes watching him back in Louisa County, Virginia. Just an hour's drive or less from Richmond, Fredericksburg and Charlottesville, his rural hometown, is a source of motivation. He recalls walking through the woods, playing outside, running through cornfields and jogging along trails to the end of gravel driveways—experiences that continue to fuel his purpose.
"During the summer, I also worked a camp at a parks and recreation place in my hometown," said Hunter, who admires Lebron James for how he deals with all the negativity and stays positive. "To see those kids and the connection I have built with them has helped me understand my impact on the community. I went to a high school football game at my old school recently and feeling the love and hearing people tell me they are proud of me while supporting me motivates me to go a little harder."
His play on the field has proved that. He is a shifty running back and his consistently elegant performances have led to plenty of accolades.
Hunter has rushed for over 2,300 yards during his distinguished career. He had a game to remember earlier this season against Mercyhurst when he ran wild for 144 yards and scored three touchdowns on 28 bruising carries. During Howard's 21-14 win over Sacred Heart (Oct. 12), Hunter carried the ball 22 times for 73 yards. He scored a touchdown early in the second quarter that tied the game, 7-7.
Hunter always dreamed of becoming the next professional football player from his county, joining Kerry Wynn, who played from 2014-19, Mark Fischer, who played from 1998-2003 and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round, and Brandon Smith, who played at Penn State and was signed by the New York Jets.
Following the 2022 campaign, he was named to the Bluebloods All-Conference Second Team, earned a spot on the Phil Steele FCS All-MEAC Second Team and selected to the All-MEAC Second Team after finishing fourth in the MEAC in rushing per game. The multi-dimensional threat was also fifth in all-purpose yards, fifth in touchdowns, ninth in scoring and 10th in total offense.
Hunter's skill was evident during the 2021 season when he earned All-MEAC Third Team and Phil Steele FCS All-MEAC Third Team honors. He was also named to the MEAC Football All-Academic Team.
A fan of the Green Bay Packers and rapper Lil Baby, Hunter will gladly trade all of those accomplishments for another MEAC championship and an opportunity to reverse last season's heartbreaking Celebration Bowl result, a 30-26 setback to Florida A&M.
"It was big to have the people who supported us for a couple of years be rewarded from the season we had," Hunter said, leading Howard into the Celebration Bowl. "To know we made a lot of people proud, I was happy to be a part of that."
Hunter, who loves salmon and playing video games, is also thrilled to be part of Howard's legacy of excellence. There has been no better experience for him than earning a degree from Howard and making his family proud. Aside from football, Howard's culture, sterling reputation and legacy of excellence quickly attracted Hunter and made him feel immediately welcome.
"As the election approaches and Vice President Harris possibly steps into a new role, it is significant to see someone who has walked the same path, ate in the same cafeteria and shared similar experiences at Howard," Hunter said. "She has shown us love when she is been able to return to campus. Someone like Anthony Anderson, who is prominent in the Black community, is a powerful influence. It is inspiring to follow in their footsteps, using their blueprint to guide us on whatever path we choose."
Rob Knox is an award-winning professional and a member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Athletics Hall of Fame. In addition to having work published in SLAM magazine, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, and Diverse Issues In Higher Education, Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by CSC with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award and the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Named a HBCU Legend by SI.com, Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Communicators, formerly CoSIDA.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.
