Jalyx Hunt

Player Information

Jalyx Benjamin Hunt (JAY-liks; born March 13, 2001) is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Cornell Big Red and the Houston Christian Huskies and was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Birthdate:
13 March 2001
Full Name:
Jalyx Benjamin Hunt
Birthplace:
Debary, Florida, USA
Nationality:
United States
Gender:
Male
Height (cm):
191
Weight (kg):
114
Education:
Dutch Fork High School (High School), University High School (High School), Cornell (College), Houston Christian (College)
Career Started:
2024
Notable Achievements:
Super Bowl champion (LIX), Second-team FCS All-American (2023), SLC Defensive Player of the Year (2023), First-team All-SLC (2023), Second-team All-SLC (2022)
Current Team:
Draft Year:
2024
Drafted By:
Philadelphia Eagles
Player Active:
From - 2024, To - Present

Jalyx Hunt Bio

Jalyx Benjamin Hunt (born March 13, 2001) is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 252 pounds, he plays the linebacker position and wears jersey number 58. Hunt played college football for the Cornell Big Red and the Houston Christian Huskies before being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. He is also a Super Bowl champion, having recorded a half-sack in the Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LIX.

Early Life and Background

Jalyx Benjamin Hunt was born on March 13, 2001, in Debary, Florida. He spent several years in Maryland and then South Carolina before ultimately moving to Florida. In 2011, as a young athlete, he won Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships at the Junior Olympic Games in triathlon and long jump, showing an early range of athletic ability that extended well beyond football.

Hunt attended Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, South Carolina for one year, where he played varsity football as a freshman. He later moved to Florida and attended University High School in Orange City for his sophomore through senior years. At University High School, he played football and basketball, while also competing in track and field events including the high jump, long jump, and triple jump. In his senior season, he was named all-county at wide receiver, totaling 20 receptions for 475 yards and two touchdowns, and served as co-team captain and offensive MVP.

Path to American Football

Coming out of high school as an unranked prospect, Hunt committed to play college football for the Cornell Big Red of the Ivy League. His recruitment profile was modest, but his multi-sport background gave him a strong athletic foundation. He transitioned from a wide receiver in high school to a defensive role in college, beginning the long-term shift that would eventually turn him into an NFL linebacker.

At Cornell, Hunt began his collegiate career as a safety in 2019, appearing in seven games and posting three tackles. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting his early development. In 2021, he played in 10 games and recorded 26 tackles. Seeking a larger role and a stronger defensive fit, Hunt opted to transfer to the Houston Baptist Huskies, soon renamed the Houston Christian Huskies, in 2022, where he moved to the defensive line and began producing at a much higher level.

Jalyx Hunt Career

Early Career (2019–2021)

Hunt’s earliest college production came at Cornell, where he worked as a defensive back and contributed on special teams. His tackle totals grew from three in 2019 to 26 in 2021, and his time in the Ivy League helped him adjust to the speed and complexity of college football. The canceled 2020 season interrupted his development but did not derail his trajectory.

After the 2021 season, Hunt made the decision to enter the transfer portal in search of a more prominent defensive role. He landed at Houston Christian, an FCS program, where the coaching staff planned to use him closer to the line of scrimmage. The move paid off quickly, as he became a disruptive force on the Southland Conference defensive line in 2022 and 2023.

Houston Christian Breakthrough (2022–2023)

In his first season at Houston Christian in 2022, Hunt was named second-team All-Southland Conference. He either led or tied for the conference lead in tackles-for-loss (11.5), sacks (7), and forced fumbles (3), showcasing a rare combination of run-stopping strength and pass-rushing quickness. The production marked a clear breakthrough after his developmental years at Cornell.

Hunt returned in 2023 and elevated his play even further. He was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned second-team FCS All-American honors, while also being selected first-team All-Southland Conference. Over his two-year Houston Christian career, he finished with 133 tackles, 20.5 tackles-for-loss, and 13.5 sacks. He was invited to the 2024 Senior Bowl, becoming the first player from Houston Christian ever to receive the honor, and one of only four FCS players invited that year.

Philadelphia Eagles Era (2024–Present)

Hunt was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round, 94th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft, becoming the first player in Houston Christian history to be drafted. He joined a Philadelphia defense that was building around young linebackers and edge rushers, and he contributed immediately on special teams and in rotational defensive packages. In his rookie year, he appeared in Super Bowl LIX, recording a half-sack in the Eagles’ 40–22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Entering the 2025 campaign, Hunt began the season as one of Philadelphia’s starting linebackers. In Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings, he recorded his first career interception, picking off quarterback Carson Wentz and returning it 42 yards for his first career defensive touchdown. By the end of the 2025 regular season, he led the Eagles in both sacks and interceptions, becoming the first player in franchise history to lead the team in both categories in a single season.

Driving Style and Strengths

Listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 252 pounds, Hunt brings a rare combination of size, speed, and versatility to the linebacker position. His track-and-field background shows up in his range as a sideline-to-sideline tackler, while his time on the defensive line at Houston Christian gave him a refined pass-rushing skill set. As a coverage linebacker, he has shown the ability to read quarterbacks and make plays on the ball, evidenced by his 2025 interception production.

Notable Events and Milestones

One of the signature moments of Hunt’s young NFL career came in Super Bowl LIX, when he recorded a half-sack in Philadelphia’s championship win. Another milestone arrived in 2025, when he became the first player in Philadelphia Eagles history to lead the team in both sacks and interceptions in the same season. He also became the first player ever drafted from Houston Christian, a historic distinction for both him and his college program.

Jalyx Hunt Career Wins

Jalyx Benjamin Hunt has accumulated a growing list of team and individual achievements across the NFL and college football. At the professional level, he is a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles. At the college level, he earned Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, an FCS All-American selection, and multiple All-Conference awards while starring for the Houston Christian Huskies.

Philadelphia Eagles Highlights

In the NFL, Hunt’s biggest win to date is Super Bowl LIX, where he helped the Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22. He contributed a half-sack in that contest, an early career highlight. Beyond the championship, his 2025 regular season was a personal breakthrough, as he led the team in both sacks and interceptions and recorded his first career interception returned for a touchdown.

Other Wins and Performances

At the college level, Hunt’s most significant performances came during his two seasons at Houston Christian, where he racked up 133 tackles, 20.5 tackles-for-loss, and 13.5 sacks. He led or co-led the Southland Conference in tackles-for-loss, sacks, and forced fumbles in 2022, and earned Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Earlier in his athletic career, he won Amateur Athletic Union championships at the Junior Olympic Games in triathlon and long jump in 2011.

Jalyx Hunt Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Public details about Jalyx Benjamin Hunt’s immediate family, including parents and siblings, are not widely documented. He was raised across multiple states, spending time in Maryland, South Carolina, and Florida during his childhood. His family background supported a multi-sport upbringing that included football, basketball, and track and field.

Personal Life

Jalyx Benjamin Hunt is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, a historically African American fraternity. Beyond his fraternity affiliation, he keeps much of his personal life private. He is focused on his professional football career with the Philadelphia Eagles and continues to build on his early success in the NFL.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked Jalyx Benjamin Hunt’s first full year as a starting linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles. He took advantage of the expanded role, leading the team in both sacks and interceptions, a feat no Eagle had accomplished in a single season. His first career interception, a 42-yard pick-six against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7, served as a defining moment and helped establish his value as a playmaker in the defensive backfield.

Hunt’s impact extended beyond the box score, as he became a versatile chess piece for the Eagles’ defensive staff. He showed the ability to rush the passer, drop into coverage, and finish tackles in the run game. By the end of the regular season, his production placed him among the most improved young linebackers in the NFC.

Looking ahead, Hunt is positioned as a building block for the Philadelphia defense and a key contributor for the Eagles’ postseason outlook. His combination of youth, athleticism, and growing production suggests his 2025 performance is a foundation for further growth in the seasons to come.