Terrel Hunt eludes a defender in practice. (Denis Gostev)
The book is out on Terrel Hunt.
The Christ the King standout is uber-athletic and extremely explosive. It’s a big reason why he’ll be going to Syracuse in the fall.
But can he throw the football?
“A lot of colleges overlooked me as an athlete and not a quarterback because New York City kids aren’t that good in football, but I just wanted to show them that I could play quarterback,” Hunt said. “I’m working hard for it so don’t overlook me.”
The Orange fans saw first-hand Hunt’s ability in the second annual New York State High School Football Classic at the Carrier Dome on June 5. The 6-foot-3 Hunt rushed 11 times for 31 yards and a score and connected with Fort Hamilton’s Brandon Reddish, his future ‘Cuse teammate, on a 52-yard TD pass in the Downstate team’s 41-7 win.
“We didn’t even say anything,” Hunt said of the long strike to Reddish. “I just gave him a head nod and he knew to go long. I wish he could play wide receiver up there.”
Reddish, instead, will be a defensive back at Syracuse and he’ll play that same position Tuesday night in the Empire Challenge at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium, an annual all-star game pitting the best from the city against the elite Long Island players.
“It shows that not only can he run, he can throw,” Reddish said. “He’s just an all-around athlete. He can do anything.”
Hunt, who threw for 1,289 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 1,218 yards and 14 scores for Christ the King and was named first-team all-city by The Post, will be starting behind center Tuesday. He’s hoping it’s a sign of things to come.
“I’m going into this game real confident because there’s a lot of people coming and they’re not coming to see us lose or be bad,” Hunt said. “Every practice I was going hard. I wanted the starting spot and I got it.”
Hunt is one of four quarterbacks on the stacked NYC roster, but he’s the only player from the CHSFL. While receivers like Jefferson’s Mark Thomas, Tottenville’s Steven Browne and Wilbert Lee from Boys & Girls have just learned about Hunt’s skill set, Cardinal Hayes wide out Abraham Ocasio already knows how good, and versatile Hunt is.
The two-sport star – Hunt also helped lead the powerhouse Christ the King basketball team to a second consecutive CHSAA Class AA title – rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and was 7-of-11 for 89 yards in a 33-28 win against Hayes in a regular-season game in October.
“He’s the man,” Ocasio said. “Me and him, we got real close. It feels good for him to throw me the ball, also being that he is the only quarterback from the Catholic league, so he knows what I can do a little bit. I hope he gives me the ball the whole game. I won’t disappoint.”
Hunt certainly hasn’t disappointed the NYC coaches in the practices leading up to the game.
“He can throw it,” said Tottenville’s Jim Munson, the NYC offensive coordinator. “He’s made some throws this week that have been pretty good. I think he’ll have a fine career at Syracuse. He’s athletic and he’s deceiving and with a little bit of coaching on the college level, he’ll get much better.”
Hunt is counting on that. He said he’s going to Syracuse to compete for the starting quarterback job and even if he has to red-shirt his first year there, it will be a learning experience. The Empire Challenge will be a transition in his career.
“I’m Mr. Big Shot in my school, but this is it,” Hunt said. “When I go to Syracuse I’m just another player on the depth chart. I’ve got to work my way up. I look at this as the way to end my career in high school.”