Player Profile

PRO: As the Cowboys fifth round draft choice (168th overall) in 2002, Pete Hunter is looking to capitalize on the experience he gained during his rookie season to become a regular in the Cowboys secondary. His combination of outstanding size (6-2, 212-pounds), speed (4.34 40-yard dash) and smarts (honor student who graduated with a degree in criminal justice) helped him turn into a versatile playmaker at Virginia Union. Hunter is also a commodity on special teams units, recording 10 career blocked punts, field goals and PATs during his college career.

2002: After being inactive for the first two games of the season, Hunter made his NFL debut at Philadelphia (9/22) on special teams. The next week in the win at St. Louis (9/29), he picked up his first career special teams tackle before suffering a sprained left knee. He returned to action against the N.Y. Giants (10/6), seeing time at safety and in nickel packages before spraining his left ankle. Hunter sat out the next two games but returned against Jacksonville (11/24), where he recorded his first career tackle as a member of the defense. He finished with five stops against the Jaguars. Hunter saw significant action on Thanksgiving Day against Washington (11/28), tallying five tackles while adding three more on special teams. He finished with a season-high six tackles, one for a loss, and a quarterback pressure against San Francisco (12/8). He saw extensive second half action at right cornerback against Philadelphia (12/21) in place of Mario Edwards (neck) and tied his season-high with six tackles while picking up his first-career interception and breaking up three passes. Hunter earned his first NFL start in place of Edwards in the season finale at Washington (12/29), picking up five tackles and a special teams stop.

COLLEGE: As a senior, Hunter made the move from free safety to strong safety, giving him the opportunity to captain the defense and make the calls in the secondary. A preseason All-America selection by Street and Smith Magazine, he went on to justify those honors by leading the CIAA conference with 11 interceptions in 11 games. He finished fifth on the Panthers with 50 tackles and had a team-high 13 passes defensed while also blocking a conference-high six kicks. As a junior, he returned to the free safety position in the Virginia Union secondary, finishing third on the team with 52 tackles, including nine for losses. Hunter was second on the team with three interceptions - one returned for a touchdown - and three fumble recoveries while leading the team with 13 passes defensed. As a sophomore, he moved from cornerback to free safety and hit the ground running. He led the team with six interceptions for 133 yards in returns. He also broke up 10 passes and recovered two fumbles. Virginia Union posted an 8-2 record behind Hunter's 40 tackles and two sacks. On special teams, he demonstrated the first glimpse of his talents with three blocked kicks.

PERSONAL: An honor student at Atlantic City, NJ, High School, Ralph Everette Hunter went on to earn similar honors and his degree in criminal justice at Virginia Union. While in Richmond, he was also a member of the school's Student Athlete Advisory Council. He was selected to the CIAA-All Community Works team for his efforts with the K-8 grades as a substitute teacher and volunteer in the After School program when at home. As a member of the Cowboys 2002 Rookie Club - a program designed to introduce rookie team members to community service in the Dallas area - Hunter participated in monthly charity visits to non-profit organizations serving children. Pete's mother, Carol Derrick, is a casino dealer in Atlantic City.