Javin Hunter

Javin Edward Hunter (born May 9, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Notre Dame and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL draft. He also played a season for the San Francisco 49ers. Hunter's father James also played in the NFL and his son Jaden Ivey played college basketball for the Purdue Boilermakers and currently in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons.

Hunter attended high school at Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan, where he was a 3-time All-State and USA Today All-American basketball player while teaming with former Miami Heat player and Duke standout Shane Battier as well as Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year David Webber. He was a three-time Michigan High School Athletic Association Class B state basketball champion.^[1]

In football, he was a first-team Parade All-American, USA Today second-team All-American, rated 34th best player nationally by The Sporting News and 37th best player by Chicago Sun-Times. He was also rated one of the top 3 wide receivers in the country by the Dallas Morning News, PrepStar and Street and Smith magazine. Hunter was a top recruit for the legendary and former Notre Dame wide receiver coach Urban Meyer and committed to the University of Notre Dame.

In a run-heavy Notre Dame offense under Bob Davie, he was Notre Dame's top receiver in 2001 and lead the team in catches and receiving yards that same year. He was also a member of the Irish basketball team in his freshman year under former NBA coach John Macleod.^[2] Hunter's father was James Hunter, a former all-pro defensive back for the Detroit Lions from 1976 to 1982.^[2]

Hunter was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft.^[3] He first showed promise as a rookie scoring two touchdowns, including one on a 99-yard kick return against the New York Jets. Hunter was named one of ten rookies to watch for the 2002 season by The Sporting News. He finished the 2002 season playing in 12 games, 4 of them starts. He also averaged 26.3 yards on kick returns, including a 63-yard return against the Indianapolis Colts.

The next year, Hunter tore his Achilles tendon during training camp and missed the entire season. In September 2005, he made the switch to cornerback from wide receiver. However, after an injury during camp he was given an injury settlement by the Ravens.^[4] Hunter was then picked up by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005.^[5]

Hunter has a son, Jaden Ivey, with former University of Notre Dame point guard and current women's basketball head coach Niele Ivey. Jaden was an All-American basketball player at Purdue University and currently plays for the Detroit Pistons. Hunter has another son, Jordan Hunter, currently attending Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, VA.

Javin currently works with the NFL Players Trust, an affiliate of the NFL Players Association, helping former players transition away from the NFL.