"Has a good short area burst," reads an NFL.com assessment, "but not the sustained speed to threaten in the deep secondary."
When, three weeks later, Hunt did run a pair of 40s at Penn State's Pro Day, he was timed at 4.65 and 4.75, pedestrian by the standards of the league's breakaway backs.
Still, there are a number of old-school coaches, scouts and draft experts who see more than a lack of downfield speed when they look at Hunt, a three-year starter at Penn State.
The 6-foot-11/2 233-pounder is a bull in traffic. He runs low and hard. He doesn't go down easily. He waits for blocks to develop. He catches passes. And he blocks.
"He's certainly one of the better backs we've had," said Joe Paterno of Hunt, who is fifth in career rushing at the school, behind Curt Warner. "He's a solid runner. He's a complete back. He's really a good receiver. And he's an excellent blocker. And he's 230 pounds. He's a big-time football player."
For some teams, that size, strength and versatility will negate concerns about Hunt's speed, especially those looking for a big back in a draft dominated by smaller runners like Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch.
"Tony Hunt is the best inside runner in this draft," said Ron Rang, NFLDraftScout.com's senior analyst. "If he can get himself into the right system, he could end up being one of the most effective backs in this entire draft."
That's certainly the scenario Hunt and agent Alvin Keels are trying to sell. So far, the most likely buyers for the back's services seem to be Denver, St. Louis and Green Bay, though the Eagles have expressed at least a mild interest.
Hunt believes that any NFL team, regardless of who they have at the position now, could use a running back.
"It's just one of those positions that's so rough you have to have more than one back," he said. "A back can get hurt any play, any moment. You have to have a capable back able to come in and play."
