NIU linebacker still waiting for his breakthrough
Tristan Hunter is a 6-foot-2, 203-pound linebacker for Northern Illinois, listed as a redshirt freshman in 2025 and still without game statistics, which means the upside story is about traits, not production yet.[3][4][10] The appeal here is developmental: he has a workable college frame, is already on the roster at a physical MAC program, and was projected as linebacker depth rather than an immediate starter, so he looks like a long-term fit for a team that values range, special-teams grit, and patience.[3][8]
