Eagles Jalyx Hunt: OLB Climbs To No. 15 After Historic Season

In just his second season, the third-round draft pick did something nobody before him had done in team history.

Eagles Jalyx Hunt | Ed Kracz/Eagles on SI

PHILADELPHIA – The totals weren’t overwhelming, but that doesn’t dampen the achievement. Jalyx Hunt became the first player in the Eagles’ 94-year history to lead the team in sacks and interceptions in a single season.

In just his second year in the league. Despite coming from a rather unheralded college, Houston Christian, formerly Houston Baptist. Despite starting his college career in the Ivy League at Cornell. As a safety.

The sense is that he has yet to even scratch the surface of his ability, and that has helped land Hunt at No. 15 on our list of the top 25 current Eagles. The list was compiled by the staff at Philadelphia Eagles on Sports Illustrated – Jeff Kerr, John McMullen, and Ed Kracz. Players were ranked from one through 25, with first place landing one point, second two points, and so on down to 25 points for 25th place.

Hunt collected 47 points. Kracz was higher on Smith, placing him 12th on his list, than Kerr, who had him 16th, and McMullen, who had him 19th.

It could be another 94 years before an Eagles player leads the team in sacks and interceptions. Hunt did it with 6.5 sacks and three picks. He returned one of his interceptions 42 yards for his first career touchdown.

In Vic Fangio’s defense, however, it might not take another 94 years, with Jonathan Greenard and Nolan Smith both capable of doing it in this scheme.

As for Hunt, Fangio said he has seen a “nice progression” from his rookie season to Year 2, and doesn't expect that to stop.

“I see him growing his game in all aspects,” said the DC this spring. “I think he can and will rush better. He'll play the run better. It's just the natural progression. He's had a good progression. In his rookie year, he didn't play a lot early (on).

“Then when BG (Brandon Graham) went down, he started playing more, and I thought for a guy with his background, was kind of a perfect year for him. He ended up playing a good bit if you remember in the playoffs, et cetera. Then last year played a lot, did good. Yeah, I think he's just ready to keep getting better and better.”

Perhaps next year, Hunt could climb even higher than No. 15. He was No. 19 last year before his historic season.

So far, this year’s list looks like this:

No. 25 – Tank Bigsby

No. 24 – Jake Elliott

No. 23 – Makai Lemon

No. 22 – Braden Mann

No. 21 – Drew Mukuba

No. 20 – Tyler Steen

No. 19 – Jihaad Campbell

No. 18 – Nolan Smith

No. 17 – Riq Woolen

No. 16 – Cam Jurgens

N0. 15 – Jalyx Hunt