Morgan State doesn't produce NFL alumni in bulk, but the ones who make it tend to do it the hard way — and Erick Hunter is writing that chapter in real time.
The undrafted linebacker out of Morgan State carved out a standout performance on special teams for the New England Patriots in their 29-26 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 4. Hunter, who signed with New England as an undrafted free agent, has found his early foothold in the league not through the glamour of the defensive depth chart, but through the grinding, thankless work that keeps roster spots alive: special teams.
In a league where undrafted players face a steep climb just to survive a 53-man roster cut, Hunter's ability to make himself useful in a role that coaches prize — and that most fans overlook — is exactly the kind of value that can turn a camp invite into a career. The Patriots, rebuilding and in need of dependable young contributors, appear to have found one in the Morgan State product.
It's a meaningful moment for the Bears program in Baltimore. Morgan State's football alumni presence in the NFL is modest, with a handful of active players scattered across the league — including Daylen Baldwin with the Arizona Cardinals, Joshua Miles with the Las Vegas Raiders, Keagen Trost with the Los Angeles Rams, and Elijah Williams with the Minnesota Vikings. But Hunter's emergence on a nationally visible stage, even in a supporting role, keeps the HBCU program in the conversation.
For Hunter specifically, the calculus is straightforward: special teams excellence is one of the most reliable pathways for a player without a draft pedigree to stick on an NFL roster long-term. Coaches don't forget guys who make plays when the game is on the line in coverage or on the kicking units. If Hunter can build on what he showed against Buffalo, the Patriots may have found a genuine contributor hiding in plain sight.
The story of an undrafted free agent from an HBCU earning real NFL snaps and making them count is one worth watching — and for Morgan State alumni, this is the kind of moment to pay attention to.
AI-generated summary