Estonian native Margus Hunt left his home in Karksi-Nuia in the fall of 2007 to enroll at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with the purpose to train with world-renowned track and field coach Dave Wollman. Hunt, who is a very talented shot and discus thrower, is the first junior to win both the shut put and discus gold medals which he did in the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing. He also holds the world junior record in discus throw.

 

When realizing that the sport was not going to be reinstated at the school, Wollman half jokingly suggested playing football – sport Hunt had no prior experience in. 

 

Hunt, who is a 6-7 280-pound discus record holder who can squat 600 pounds, had a tryout with SMU Mustangs football coach June Jones.  After the tryout, Jones extended a scholarship offer believing that Hunt can quickly become a contributor for his football team.

 

He was dead on.

 

Margus Hunt owns the Southern Methodist University record for blocked kicks in a season with seven. The 6-foot-3 Estonian discus thrower was just one blocked kick away from the all-time NCAA record for blocked kicks in a season.  Amazingly enough this is Hunt’s first season playing football in his life.  He had blocked kicks in five separate games with his team winning four of those games.

 

Hunt set the school record with his two blocked field goal attempts in a 31-28 victory over Rice on Saturday, November 7 and was named Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week.

 

He now has seven blocked kicks on the season – four PATS and three field goals. His seven blocks in a single season is second most in NCAA history.

 

Hunt helped SMU reach the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, the school’s first postseason appearance in 25 years. The Mustangs defeated Nevada 45-10 to become the greatest turnaround in the FBS this season going from 1-11 in 2008 to 8-5 in 2009.

 

Hunt finished his stellar first season of football being named the 2009 Defensive C-USA Honorable Mention. IFAF would like to honor Margus Hunt’s accomplishments by naming him the December IFAF.org Player of the Month.