Did Brad Holmes Just Find His Next Anzalone in the UDFA Pool?
Here we go again. Another draft class in the books, and Brad Holmes is back to doing what he does best — finding gems where nobody else is looking. This time, it’s linebacker Erick Hunter out of Morgan State, and if you believe the early reports, Holmes might have just pulled off another one of those moves that makes the rest of the league wonder how the hell they missed this guy.
Hunter put up ridiculous numbers in 2025 — 102 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, a pass breakup, an interception, and a 90-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown. Those aren’t HBCU numbers. Those are straight up football player numbers.
But here’s the thing that should make Lions fans sit up and take notice. When Kyle T. Mosley, the HBCU expert who knows this level of ball better than anyone, starts talking about Hunter, he doesn’t just talk about the stats. He talks about the culture fit.
The Perfect Lions DNA
Hunter was a team captain. Check. He’s a leader who doesn’t party. Check. And here’s the kicker — the kid is a self-proclaimed film junkie who would camp out in the coach’s office after practice instead of going home.
As Mosley put it: “He said, ‘I lived off campus, around 12 miles off campus, so instead of me going to my apartment, I stayed in the coach’s office after we had our practice. I just stayed on campus all day if I were not going to classes, I was in the coach’s office watching film.'”
If that doesn’t sound like exactly the type of player Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes build their roster around, then you haven’t been paying attention to how this thing works in Allen Park.
More Than Just a Culture Guy
The culture stuff is great, but Hunter can actually play too. Pro Football Focus gave him an 80 grade against the run and an 88.9 grade as a pass rusher. He interviewed with 31 out of 32 NFL teams, and multiple franchises asked if he could play Mike linebacker alongside Will and Sam.
That versatility matters, especially with the Lions’ linebacker room still taking shape. Depending on where Derrick Barnes ends up, there might be a real opportunity for Hunter to carve out a role.
And here’s where it gets interesting. Mosley compared Hunter to two former Lions linebackers — James Houston and Alex Anzalone. But here’s the quote that should make you pay attention: “Erick Hunter is more athletic and a better player than Alex Anzalone was coming into the league.”
That’s not small praise. Anzalone was a team captain for the Lions. If Hunter has that kind of ceiling, even as a longshot UDFA, then Holmes just found another piece for practically nothing.
The HBCU Pipeline Continues
Remember, the Lions already took a swing on James Houston from Jackson State, and while that didn’t pan out long-term, it showed they’re willing to bet on HBCU talent when the fit is right. Hunter feels like a better, more complete version of that same gamble.
As Mosley noted, “If you look at what James Houston IV was able to do coming out of Jackson State, they have a similar type of style of play. I think James was a little bit more of a bender, a better bender than Erick, but I think Erick, all in all, is a better athlete.”
Hunter knows he’s got an uphill battle coming from a small school, but he’s ready to earn his keep on special teams and fight for whatever role he can get. In August, we’ll see if all this optimism translates to actual football.
But if Holmes has taught us anything, it’s that he doesn’t sign guys just to fill out the roster. He sees something. And when Brad Holmes sees something in a linebacker, especially one with this kind of work ethic and football character, you pay attention.
Think Holmes just found his next diamond in the rough, or are we getting way too excited about another UDFA longshot? Let me know what you think in the comments.
