Blue and Gold Illustrated

The Irish will run an end around a couple times per game to maximize the touches of Hunter Jr. and fellow slot receiver Amir Carlisle, a fifth-year senior. "It's a fun play for me and Amir to have the ball in space and make peo- ple miss and get that first down when- ever we need it," said Hunter Jr., who had four carries for 12 yards through five contests. "I like it a lot." Both Hunter Jr. and sophomore quarterback DeShone Kizer see a strong on-field rapport developing between the duo. "Torii Hunter is one of the best ath- letes I know," Kizer said. "Basketball, baseball, whatever you throw at him he's amazing. He's a sure-handed guy. He has the quickness of a slot, but the size and the ability of any of the out- side receivers. "He can find himself on the field many different ways, as well as most wide receivers here. He's as elite as they come. It's about getting the ball in his hands and being able to read a de- fense and get him in a position where he can make a play." Despite the third-quarter drop, Hunter Jr. made a few plays in the Clemson game and hopes it's just the beginning. Although Hunter Jr.'s stats (two receptions for 26 yards in the previous three games) don't suggest it, Kelly said the junior emerged well before the Oct. 3 trip to Death Valley. "I don't think it's been just the last couple of weeks. It's been all pre- season camp," Kelly said. "He's done the things necessary for him to be a feature player within our offense. It's just been a matter of getting his chance and his opportunities. "Amir is playing at that position, so he's sharing a position more so than, say, Will, who is out there playing 95 percent of the snaps. "It's just getting his opportunities, and when he gets them, making the best of them. He clearly had many more opportunities based on the way coverages were being dictated in that particular game [Clemson]." That's the danger for opposing de- fenses that decide to devote too many resources to Fuller, easily the top re- ceiver on the roster. While it might slow him down, it provides oppor- tunities to playmakers like Hunter Jr. that are more than capable of moving the Irish offense. Hunter Jr. hopes to make a name for himself catching a different kind of ball than his father has for most of the past two decades and no longer feels the pressure of living up to his father's athletic reputation. "As a kid, I felt like I had to live up to the name," he said. "Now it's my own name. I'm trying to make my own path as Torii Hunter Jr., not just Torii Hunter's son. It's not a problem as far as living in his shadow." ✦ "HE'S DONE THE THINGS NECESSARY FOR HIM TO BE A FEATURE PLAYER WITHIN OUR OFFENSE. IT'S JUST BEEN A MATTER OF GETTING HIS CHANCE AND HIS OPPORTUNITIES." HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLEY ON HUNTER JR.

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