Colorado Crush Signs Hugh Hunter
October 20, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
DENVER - The Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League on Monday announced the signing of two-way lineman Hugh Hunter, its second free agent signee since AFL clubs were allowed to begin signing free agents on Oct. 15 and a very significant addition.
The importance of luring Hunter, 6-foot-2 and 260 pounds, is underscored by the fact he has been designated one of the team's franchise players. AFL teams can designate only three players per season as franchise players, gaining salary cap concessions from the league as a result.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
A six-year AFL veteran, Hunter joins the Crush from the Indiana Firebirds, where he played the past two seasons for new Crush head coach Mike Dailey. He joins another former Firebird, Rich Young, a free agent fullback-linebacker who signed with the team on Friday.
"I'm very excited we were able to add Hugh to our team," Dailey said. "He's a fierce competitor and an outstanding pass rusher and we believe he is one of the elite two-way linemen in the league."
Hunter, 31, last season played in all 16 regular season games for Indiana, totaling 23 solo tackles and 27.5 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss. He also had 5.5 sacks for 29 yards in losses, and forced two fumbles.
"Hugh has tremendous quickness and is a very effective rusher from the outside position," Crush defensive coordinator Ernesto Purnsley said. "He will also be very effective on special teams. Plus, he's an outstanding leader. He's an important addition to our team."
Hunter, from Portsmouth, Va., played college football at Hampton, where he was a first-team All-American selection as a senior. A sixth-round draft pick of the New York Jets in 1996, Hunter played for the Barcelona Dragons, of NFL Europe, in 1997, before joining the AFL's Nashville Kats.
Season tickets for the 2004 Crush now are available. For information, call 303-352-1000, or visit coloradocrush.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 20, 2003
- L.A. Avengers sign OL/DL Silas Demary - Los Angeles Avengers
- Colorado Crush Signs Hugh Hunter - Colorado Crush
- Georgia Force Lands Top Free Agents Burks and McCullough - Georgia Force
- Detroit Fury Sign DS Reggie Doster - Detroit Fury
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