NFL.com compares Margus Hunt to J.J. Watt

[PonyPride]

Margus Hunt, SMU
The Estonia native, who originally came to SMU as a highly decorated track athlete (he won gold medals in the shot put and discus in the 2006 World Junior Championships), has developed into a dominant defender. In just his fourth season of organized football, Hunt amassed 11.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and an interception. While those numbers don't necessarily jump off the page for a pass rusher, the fact that Hunt has shown exceptional strength, power and hand skills leads me to believe he has the potential to be a disruptive force as a pro. That opinion was certainly validated when I watched Hunt work out at the Senior Bowl. Although he struggled at times in one-on-one pass-rush drills, Hunt routinely flashed during team periods. And his ability to collapse the pocket is what coaches covet in five-technique players. Additionally, he displays outstanding first-step quickness on inside moves. Hunt routinely slips past blockers on slants and games to harass quarterbacks in the pocket. With an 82-inch wingspan and an impeccable sense of timing honed through blocking kicks on special teams (he piled up a whopping 17 blocks over his SMU career), Hunt can develop into a disruptive fly-swatter at the line.

As a run defender, Hunt's combination of size and strength makes him immovable at the point of attack. When he plays with proper pad level, Hunt overwhelms blockers with his explosiveness, utilizing superior arm strength to quickly shed and disengage. Additionally, he shows the ability to chase down ball carriers from the backside. Hunt's motor, relentlessness and athleticism make him a threat to take over the game at any time, a trait that will endear him to coaches and scouts across the league.

Given Hunt's impressive physical dimensions, athleticism and potential, he certainly will intrigue teams looking for a difference maker, despite his limited football experience.

Full story: Next J.J. Watt?

[WildHorse]

Bucky Brooks is a pretty well-respected talent evaluator, definitely a lot better than a lot of the bums out there. This is a pretty strong comparison.