During Week 11, there were a lot of great plays across the state of Georgia, but among the best was Mays junior Gerald Hunter’s interception returned for a touchdown in a 59-40 win against Midtown.
The explosive defensive back read the play perfectly, jumping the route and immediately turning himself into a returner. He split several tight corridors, shrugged off a few tacklers as he glided through defenders with amazing ease to cap off the incredible 70-yard pick-six.
Hunter has been playing great with 5 interceptions, 45 tackles, and 5 PBUs. His amazing pick-six rightfully earned the #3 play of the week in the state of Georgia, so we asked him to talk about the season and reflect on the last few months.
“I would describe my junior year as a movie built on consistency. I worked hard all offseason to make sure I could perform when it mattered most,” Hunter said
After beating Midtown in Week 11, they will face Drew tonight and have already secured a playoff spot, no matter the result. Still, the junior ballhawk wants more than just a first-round exit.
“My goal for the rest of the season is to help my team make a deep playoff run and continue making big plays to get my name noticed,” he said.
On the recruiting front, Hunter is patiently waiting for his opportunities and does not waver in his faith.
“I haven’t taken any visits yet, but I know my time is coming. I might be underrated in the recruiting world right now, but I trust God’s timing. Everyone’s path is different,” Hunter said.
The scouts and college recruiting experts who comb through MaxPreps will quickly notice Hunter’s high INT total in 4A, which will automatically get him on some colleges’ radar in the coming week and months. The junior backs up the production with film, and he has routinely been a bright spot on the defense.
“What separates me is my consistency and mentality. I don’t wait to be motivated — I show up and put in the work every single day, whether anyone’s watching or not. A lot of players work hard when they feel good; I work hard until I get it right,” Hunter said.
Hunter’s playmaking on defense can spark momentum that can change the entire game like last week’s pick-six against Midtown, so the hard work will be put to the test soon with a first-round 4A matchup. Anything could happen once the GHSA playoffs hit, so be sure to follow @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter/X to hear the latest on Hunter and players across the state of Georgia.
