Ocean Lakes receiver Hunter headed to Tennessee

VIRGINIA BEACH

Ocean Lakes standout receiver Justin Hunter, who committed to LSU last spring, has de-committed and is headed to Tennessee.

Hunter, 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, made the decision late Tuesday night, and his coach, Chris Scott, said “this decision is final.”

“He’s been a little leery since receivers coach D.J. McCarthy left,” Scott said. “He took his visit back in October and established a relationship with some of the players there.

“But I think a lot of things he thought he’d be able to get out of LSU he didn’t.”

Scott said many people thought the decision to leave LSU came “out of the blue,” but said Hunter has been pondering it for some time.

“He’s been open and told LSU that he visited Florida and Tennessee,” Scott said. “So he’s kind of been looking around.”

McCarthy resigned in December after he was the subject of an internal investigation involving NCAA violations. He was replaced by Billy Gonzales, who joined the Tigers in December after spending the 2009 regular season as receivers coach at Florida.

Hunter’s wanted to make certain he would be able to compete on the track team. LSU said he could join its team, but Hunter wasn’t so sure. When he spoke to coaches at Florida and Tennessee, they seemed much more open about the idea.

“He felt a little bit more comfortable with the jump coach at Tennessee,” Scott said. “So he’s excited about that combination there.”

Hunter is one of the top all-around jumpers in the nation. Last season he jumped 25-3¾ in the long jump, which ranked fourth nationally. He cleared 7-2 in the high jump, which ranked sixth nationally.

His 49-5 in the triple jump was in the top 20 nationally.

Last week at an indoor meet, he leaped 23-11, which is second nationally.

Scott also said Hunter got to know new Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, the former Louisiana Tech coach and son of legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley.

“With the little bit of time he’s been able to establish with (coach Dooley),” Scott said, “he felt a little more comfortable and more trusting with this guy than the other Tennessee staff.

“His family also felt better with the decision. I just hope it’s the right decision.”

Hunter was The Virginian-Pilot’s Male Athlete of the Year last year.

He also was first-team All-Tidewater this past fall with 43 catches for 714 yards and eight touchdowns.

Earlier this month he played in the 2010 Under Armour All-American game in Tampa, Fla.

Also, Green Run defensive back Zachary Dunston has committed to Marshall University. Dunston, 6-1 and 185 pounds, was first-team All-Beach District this past season.

Larry Rubama, (757) 446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com