Football | 1/5/2026 4:00:00 PM

BALTIMORE, Md. (Jan. 5, 2026) – Morgan State standout linebacker Erick Hunter participated in the inaugural FCS Showcase hosted by the NCAA, AFCA, and NFL in Nashville during national championship weekend.

Hunter was one of just 31 players invited to attend the event and joined South Carolina State's Jarod Washington as the only two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) representatives selected.

Hunter and the other participants were interviewed by NFL team representatives on Sunday, Jan. 4, and took part in limited on-field drills on Monday morning, Jan. 5. Players were also invited to attend tonight's FCS Championship game between Montana State and Illinois State, airing nationally on ESPN. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.

"It's been an incredible experience, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue living out my childhood dream," Hunter said of the FCS Showcase. "I had a great time meeting with scouts from different teams and felt I competed well during the on-field drills."

"Next up is The American Bowl in Orlando, and I'm really looking forward to that opportunity as well," Hunter added.

Hunter's postseason résumé is extensive. He earned Stats Perform FCS Second-Team All-American honors, Phil Steele FCS Third-Team All-American recognition, and was named an FCS Football Central All-American. He also garnered All-MEAC First Team honors, was selected as a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, earned BOXTOROW HBCU All-American recognition, and accepted an invitation to compete in The American Bowl—college football's inaugural all-star game—scheduled to air on NFL Network on Jan. 22, 2026.
   
A Capitol Heights, Md., native, Hunter opened the season as the MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and exceeded expectations throughout the campaign. He started all 12 games and led the conference with 102 total tackles, including 53 solo stops, while adding 14 tackles for loss and four sacks. Hunter also recorded five quarterback hurries, forced four fumbles, and intercepted a pass. One of the signature moments of his senior season came against Norfolk State, when Hunter returned a blocked kick 90 yards for a touchdown.

Hunter further etched his name into Morgan State history by finishing his career ranked second on the program's all-time tackles list with 298, underscoring his consistency, leadership, and impact in Baltimore.

The FCS Showcase was created to provide a premier evaluation platform for approximately 50 FCS prospects eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. The event allows invited players to receive comprehensive evaluations from NFL scouting staffs while benefiting from the national exposure surrounding the FCS Championship.


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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.