Phillip Hunt, DE

This undersized but strong, hustling rush end put a hurt on Conference USA opponents in his four years in Houston. Hunt lined up at tackle, end and linebacker, and scouts like his versatility. He was twice a first-team All-CUSA pick, accumulating 107 tackles, 36.5 for loss, 25 sacks and five forced fumbles in his junior and senior seasons. In 2008 he was C-USA's Defensive Player of the Year.

Positives: Strong upper and lower body for a defensive end with a long wingspan. … Comes strong out of his stance, gets inside the jersey of his man and can rip off his man to get to the quarterback. … Uses his hands well in the pass rush. … Has swim moves either direction. … Lines up at end, tackle and linebacker. … Usually comes on the blitz when standing up. … Chases down the line. … Secure open-field tackler using his long arms and strength to wrap up. … Gets his hand on the ball to force turnovers when the tackle is secured. … Splits double-team blocking when lined up at end or as a linebacker. … Gets hands up in passing lanes (10 pass breakups in 2007). … Maintains gap and contain discipline.

Negatives: Production often comes against poor competition or overmatched running backs. … Short for a defensive end but lacks the bulk to play tackle in most systems, although Tampa-2 teams may try him as a pass-rushing specialist inside. … Lacks the quickness to beat NFL tackles off the edge. … Only changed direction on bootlegs and misdirection plays. … Is not a fluid runner or a quick-twitch athlete and might struggle in space if tried at linebacker. … Fails to get off blocks of tackles or tight ends too often.

First team All-Conf USA. Award-winning member of defensive front … Team leader in tackles for loss, sacks and pass breakups … Had at least one tackle for loss in all but two games … One of 12 players to start all 13 games … Posted a 5-yard sack at Oregon during the season opener … Recorded two solo tackles, including one for a loss of nine yards, at Conference USA rival Tulane … Posted three tackles, including an 11-yard sack, against Colorado State during the home opener … Finished with 1.5 tackles for a loss of 14 yards and a pass breakup against the Rams … Recorded eight tackles, including one for a 4-yard loss, against C-USA rival East Carolina … Also added a sack assist for a loss of three yards and two pass breakups against the Pirates … Posted seven tackles, including four solo stops, and added a quarterback pressure at Alabama … Recorded eight tackles, including three solo stops, against Rice … Added three tackles for a loss of 18 yards, including a 9-yard sack, with a forced fumble and three pass breakups against the Owls … Recorded four tackles, including three solo stops, at C-USA rival UAB … Added two tackles for a loss of 10 yards, including a 9- yard sack, and returned his first career interception eight yards against the Blazers … Finished with three solo tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries at UTEP … Recorded six tackles, including three solo stops, against SMU … Added three tackles for a loss of 21 yards, including 2.5 sacks for a loss of 21 yards, against the Mustangs … Also forced a fumble and broke up two passes against SMU … Honored as the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week for that performance … Recorded three tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of three yards, at C-USA rival Tulsa … Also posted an assisted sack for a loss of two yards with three quarterback hurries against the Golden Hurricane … Recorded a 4-yard sack with two pass breakups against C-USA rival Marshall … Posted three tackles, including a sack for a loss of five yards, against Texas Southern during the regular-season finale. Texas Bowl: Recorded six tackles, including four solo stops, against TCU … Finished with two tackles for a loss of 13 yards, including a 7-yard sack, against the Horned Frogs.

One of only 10 players to start all 14 games, setting a UH single-season record … was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team by the media … also picked up Third-Team, All-C-USA accolades from the head coaches … team leader with 12 tackles for a loss of 43 yards and eight sacks for 37 yards … ranked fourth in C-USA with his sack total … second on team with eight quarterback pressures … made seven tackles, including five solo, during the season opener at Rice … added three tackles for a loss of nine yards, including a 7-yard sack against the Owls … recorded three tackles with a pass breakup against Tulane during the home opener … posted two tackles, including one for a 2-yard loss, against Grambling State … made four solo tackles at Miami (Fla.) … finished with four tackles, including a 4-yard sack, and added two quarterback pressures against UTEP … posted five tackles, including four solo, and added three quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery against UCF … recorded three tackles, including two solo, and added a quarterback pressure against Tulsa … posted nine tackles, including seven solo, with three sacks for a loss of 12 yards at SMU to help the Cougars clinch the C-USA West Division … was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week for that effort … posted four tackles, including a 5-yard sack, and broke up a pass at Memphis to help the Cougars clinch home-field advantage for the C-USA Championship game … posted four tackles, including two for a loss of seven yards, and added a 6-yard sack against Southern Miss during the C-USA Championship Game … recorded seven tackles, including four solo, with a 3-yard sack against South Carolina in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Competed in all 12 games as a reserve … second on the team with six quarterback hurries … named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team … made three tackles for a loss of three yards at Tulsa … posted five tackles, including a solo stop, against Tulane … made one tackle, broke up a pass and added a quarterback hurry at Mississippi State … posted two tackles, including a 9-yard sack, against Southern Miss.

Redshirted the season.

Played with another 2004 signee, Sean Bailey, at Dunbar High School … Helped team to a 6-4 finish … Selected to the Coca-Cola All-Star Team … Two-time selection as First-Team, All-District.

Full name is Phillip Wayne Hunt, Jr. … Born January 10, 1986, in Fort Worth, Texas … Son of Noni Roberts of Fort Worth … Also recruited by Iowa, Baylor, Tulsa and Arkansas State … Enjoys working out in his spare time … majoring in sports administration.