Surviving Camp with Jalyx Hunt, Part 3: Making Your Mark in the Preseason

Surviving Camp with Jalyx Hunt, Part 3: Making Your Mark in the Preseason originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia

THEOver the next few weeks of Eagles training camp, we’ll be catching up weekly with third-round defensive end Jalyx Hunt from Houston Christian. We’ll be tracking his progress as the small-school product adapts to life in the NFL.

Part 1: How many people in an office?

Part 2: Learning from a former Pro Bowler

At Jalyx Hunt’s feet sat a cup holder full of ice water for her fellow veterans – green apple, blue raspberry, Swedish fish – and they were starting to melt.

As he walked off the field after the 11th practice of training camp, Hunt’s rookie duties were interrupted by a slow but steady line of kids looking for him to autograph their footballs, posters and more.

“It’s cool,” Hunt said. “They don’t know who I am. Some do. A lot of kids see a football player, I play for their favorite team, so it works.”

The NFL is a new world for Hunt after playing college football at Cornell and Houston Christian. During college, Hunt said he signed a total of two autographs. He signed much more than that on Sunday, in the time it took a glass of ice water to sweat.

While this is new to Hunt, he said he has been signing autographs since he was 8 years old. He used to have about 12 different signatures, but he cut it down to two. Even if Sunday’s kids don’t know who Hunt is, the number 58 next to his name should help.

“I’m putting the number out there,” Hunt said. “Rookie year. I’m signing it, leaning into it. In the future this may change, it may not change.”

On Friday night, Hunt played in his first NFL preseason game and really tried to enjoy the experience. Before the game, he walked around the field, listened to music during the warm-up and talked to some acquaintances on the other side of the line.

“It was amazing,” Hunt said. “It’s crazy coming out of the tunnel.”

The added bonus was that Hunt’s parents were able to travel to Baltimore to watch him play.

And Hunt did not disappoint. The third-round pick played 24 defensive snaps and another 12 on special teams. He had three solo tackles on defense and another on special teams.

“I think I did well on my first outing,” Hunt said. “Some things to work on, as always. But the effort was there, the intensity and everything. As long as I have that, I can build on that.”

It was an encouraging start.

“I thought Hunt did a little better than I thought, just based on practice,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “I think he’s improving and it’s coming. And I think he will continue to improve.”

Hunt’s best play of the night came in coverage when he broke away from his man to make a tackle in the open field. Although Fangio downplayed the importance of Hunt’s security experience, Hunt said it definitely helps him in the space.

But he also gets a lot of work in coverage during practice.

“Training and using my eyes,” Hunt said of his offense. “I know that certain pieces are a common path. So if I’m getting a deep threat, I know I can look inside and things like that. I actually learned this from vets. Bryce (Huff), he’s really good at that, getting into space. Just asking questions and learning.”

After a few weeks of training, things seem to be going well for Hunt. He’s been turning heads along the way and did it again on Friday night.

The next big challenge will come this week when the Eagles face the Patriots in New England in a joint practice before another preseason game.

“Oh yes,” said Hunt. “They said it’s more fun than anything.”

Goal for next week: “Be more detailed. And that. Improve what I need to improve. I have energy and effort and speed and everything. Just do it in a more refined way.”

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