Virginia Tech Reinstates Safety Devon Hunter

Virginia Tech, Devon Hunter
Devon Hunter has been reinstated. (Dave Knachel, Virginia Tech Athletics)

Virginia Tech safety Devon Hunter has been cleared to return to the football team by Head Coach Justin Fuente, per a noon announcement from the athletic department.

Last month, Hunter pled guilty in Montgomery County to assault and battery of a family member.  He was originally charged with a felony, but he accepted a plea deal that dropped his charge to a misdemeanor.  He was sentenced to two years in jail, but with 23 months and 28 days suspended.

Once Hunter’s felony charge was pled down, that greatly strengthened his chances of returning to the football team.  With a felony charge no longer on his record, his ability to make it through “student-conduct protocols” became much more likely, and once those hurdles were cleared Justin Fuente was quick to reinstate him.  Fuente has always praised Hunter as one of the hardest-working players on the team.

Hunter was a 4-star, top 100 recruit coming out of Indian River High School in Chesapeake, VA.  However, his career didn’t get off to the fast start that many thought.  After playing special teams as a true freshman in 2017, he redshirted in 2018 and saw spot duty behind Reggie Floyd at rover in 2019.  He has played 268 defensive snaps in his career, and he was projected to compete for a starting position in 2020 before his arrest.

Hunter could potentially factor in at free safety, strong safety or whip, though based on what we saw in the past it appears that strong safety is probably his best position.  Already 23 years old, Hunter will be a redshirt junior in 2021.

We’ll have more on Hunter’s reinstatement, including how he could factor in on this year’s defense, in a TSL Pass article on Wednesday.

16 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. I will be rooting hard for you Devon and commend you for not giving up on your journey and goal, good luck sir and hope to see you out on the field making big plays this fall!

  2. I will not judge Devon. Others with more information, knowledge, and insight have decided. I welcome him back to the team as he works hard to establish a new positive baseline for his future.

  3. Everyone deserves a second chance. Hoping he comes back strong and competes. Time to step up!

    Haven’t been as excited about an upcoming season as I am about this season. GO HOKIES!!

    1. Made a mistake ( haven’t we all ) and paid the price. Has earned a second chance and will hopefully grab it and make the most of it .

  4. Really really happy for this young man. With his reputation for hard work, I have to believe he will make the most of it! Make it the best story of the year, Devon!

  5. I was literally just thinking about him and his status. I didn’t expect to hear anything. Hope he takes advantage of this opportunity. It could make or break him.

  6. So the announcement came from Coach Fuente. Is the Comprehensive Action Plan, initiated in the late 90s and which took the Coaches out of the decision loop for player legal issues, still in effect?

  7. By all accounts, Devon is a really good kid that found himself in an unfortunate. emotionally charged situation. Very glad that the legal system took its course and he is able to rejoin his teammates and coaches who are the best possible support system he could have.

    I also hope that parents and recruits take notice that VT has been in Devon’s corner the whole time. Like many, when he was first arrested I feared this would be the end of his academic and playing career. To see things come full circle, giving him a fresh start on the field and the chance to earn his degree is more than I could have hoped for for the young man.

    1. Well said and very true . It also shows that Fuente follows the rules but is fully supportive of his players

  8. This is a good move. It helps to have older players on the team who have gone through difficult times. Hopefully this 2nd chance will lead to big things for Devon, both on and off of the field.

  9. Sometimes a 2nd chance gives you insight to what and who is important to you. May the 2nd chance show up in the classroom and on the field for a stellar season in both venues.

    GO HOKIES!!!

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