Hunt reaped rewards of strong season
Darrell Davis	
Leader-Post
pic: Joshua Sawka, Leader-Post / Reggie Hunt

Reggie Hunt didn't work at Circuit City last winter.

He didn't have to. After his outstanding rookie season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hunt got a new CFL contract, some extra money and peace of mind knowing he had a job awaiting him as the CFL team's weak-side linebacker. No offseason job was necessary, just an offseason spent preparing for his second CFL season.

Hunt, 25, also spent NFL draft weekend with his younger brother Aaron Hunt, a 6-foot-2, 262-pound defensive end from Texas Tech who was chosen in the sixth round (194th overall) by the Denver Broncos.

"He was expected to go second or third (round), but it didn't work out that way,'' Hunt said. "I was the only one with him the whole weekend. When he didn't get drafted the first day, I told him to be patient. It will come; they'll find out how good he is.''

Reggie Hunt, a 6-foot-0, 205-pounder from Texas Christian University, knows about being overlooked. After college he signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers, got released and joined NFL Europe's Scottish Claymores.

The Roughriders recruited him last year as a replacement for George White, a rookie-of-the-year finalist in 2000 who had earned a tryout with the NFL's Green Bay Packers.

By the time White returned from Green Bay, Hunt had entrenched himself in the weak-side linebacker spot and would have been a rookie-of-the-year candidate if not deemed ineligible because of his stint in NFL Europe.

Hunt led the Roughriders with 89 defensive tackles, plus he added three sacks, one interception and 14 special teams tackles. While White joined the Calgary Stampeders in the offseason as a free agent, Hunt was renegotiating a contract.

"I didn't get too much more money,'' Hunt said. "I feel better this year. I feel like I'm part of the team and I would be honoured to be part of the core of this team.''

Still, Hunt is itching for recognition after he was inexplicably ignored on the CFL's all-star teams.

"We should grow upon what we had last year, when we had the Number 2 defence in the league,'' Hunt said. "We should become the Number 1 defence.

"I was happy with last year, just not satisfied. I was kind of overlooked on the all-CFL team last year so I want to make it obvious I'm one of the best linebackers in the league this year.''

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