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One of the best football players in the Houma-Thibodaux area will not start the 2017 season with his team.
But with some quick recovering and what he described as a strong faith, he believes he has a very good shot to recover in time for district play and hopefully a run into the playoffs.
The South Lafourche football team was dealt a significant blow in spring practices when reigning First-Team All-District standout Terry Hunter tore his ACL during a practice – an ailment which put his entire senior season in doubt.
But since the injury, which required surgery, Hunter has received nothing but positive news and it looks like the standout will be able to return to the team in the middle of the season, assuming there are no setbacks in his recovery.
Hunter said the injury was a blow, but added the possible second chance to play is something he looks forward to. The touted player said if he’s able to get back onto the field, he’s going to cherish the opportunity and play every, single snap like it’s his last.
“My goals as a senior are to get back on that field and play the game that I love again,” Hunter said. “At first, I was very negative when the injury first happened because I saw everything I worked for disappear. But with the help of great friends and family, I was able to overcome it and now, I’m just looking forward to getting healthy and getting back on the field again.”
When Hunter returns, the Tarpons are going to be getting an awfully disruptive football player – a player who was expected to have an enhanced role before the injury.
As a junior, Hunter was a monster – one of the most gifted linebackers in the Houma-Thibodaux area, if not in all of Louisiana.
Hunter played outside linebacker last season and wore several hats.
On some snaps, his job was to go get the quarterback – a role he handed well, recording multiple sacks and even more hurries.
On other plays, Hunter dropped into coverage and hawked tight ends or halfbacks attempting to catch passes.
“He helps us in a lot of ways. He’s a really good leader for our football team,” former Tarpons coach Brandon Nowlin said last season after a game in which Hunter made several big plays. “He’s one of those guys you like to go to battle with because you can tell he just loves to play the game of football. Those are the types of guys you love to have because he’s going to do anything he can to help his team win in between those white lines.”
But even with the accolades and the First-Team All-District honors, Hunter said he wasn’t pleased with how he played as a junior, adding that it was a bit of a disappointing season for him because the Tarpons did not make the playoffs.
He said as soon as the season ended, he made a goal to get better every, single day so that he could be a better player as a senior.
“My junior year was really rough,” Hunter said. “Many people compliment my playing, but I believe I could’ve done better.”
With Nowlin out and first-year coach Blake Forsythe now running the Tarpons’ program, Hunter said his role was set to increase significantly in 2017, which made the injury even more painful.
He said during spring practices, he was playing linebacker, defensive end, fullback and running back, adding that he plans to return to all of those spots when given a clean bill of health.
Running back, Hunter said, is something he looks forward to playing the most, because of the thought of possibly scoring a game-changing touchdown for his team.
“I love playing linebacker because I love hitting anyone who has my football in his hands,” Hunter said. “But I also am looking forward to scoring a touchdown as a running back next season, too. I think that will be great. Truthfully, I’ll play anywhere my team needs me. I will do anything to help our team.”
Hunter just hopes that opportunity comes sooner, rather than later.
When the injury first occurred, he said he heard some diagnoses which would have seen him miss his entire senior season – a thought he said he couldn’t come to grips with easily.
But since that time, Hunter said doctors have become optimistic that because he’s young and in tip-top condition, his injury will likely heal very quickly – much more quickly than it would for the average person.
Hunter started rehab yesterday and he will work tirelessly throughout the summer to strengthen his newly repaired knee to get it back into game shape.
If all goes well, Hunter has a target date for a return to the field which has been given to him by doctors.
He recites it by heart.
“September 13,” Hunter said.
That’s two days before the Tarpons play Central Lafourche in the third game of the season and nine days before the start of district play.
Hunter said he will not rush his recovery, but added that his goal is to put in the effort to get back without a hitch.
Considering how bad things looked when the injury first occurred, he said he’ll take his current situation in a heartbeat.
“I’m ready to get back out there,” Hunter said. “I’m eager to be a Tarpon with my brothers again.”
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