At a Glance
Hometown: Sherman, Texas (born August 9, 1977) High School: Hunter was a three sport athlete at Sherman High School in Sherman, Texas. He excelled in football, track and basketball. As a Bearcat, he earned Texas All-State honors twice in football while playing quarterback, running back, kicker, punter and tight end. Even though he was an all-around athlete at Sherman High and recruited by Notre Dame as a quarterback, his skills as a punter brought him to the forefront. College: Hunter was a devoted leader in one of America’s most prolific universities. He played in every football game during his four year college career with the Irish. After 45 consecutive games, he ranked second in career punt yardage with an average of 41.2 yards per punt. There wasn’t a longer punt in Notre Dame history in 63 years before Hunter booted a 79 yarder in a game against Arizona State. It was the third longest punt in school history. Football News named Hunter to the All-Independent Conference First Team during his junior and senior season. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1999 with a degree in sociology. NFL Experience: Hunter was the 4th pick in the 7th round in the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. One of his responsibilities for the Colts was handling snaps for Mike Vanderjagt, labeled one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. The two men succeeded in 42 consecutive field goals, the best kicking streak ever recorded in the NFL by a kicker and holder tandem. As a punter, Smith placed 216 kicks inside the 20 yard line, a very impressive special team’s statistic. Up until the 2009 season, Hunter played in every game for ten consecutive seasons. After his contract expired in Indianapolis, he signed one year deal with the Washington Redskins as an unrestricted free agent on April 27, 2009. As a Redskin, he became the first special teams player to run and pass for a touchdown in the same season in NFL history. The Washington Redskins re-signed Hunter on October 7, 2010. The mid-season acquisition was meant to bring veteran leadership and stability to a struggling franchise that had not lived up to preseason expectations. Instead, he became a target for finger pointing. Two months into his second stint as a Redskin, Hunter was blamed for a botched kick with seconds to play in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Redskins lost the game. He was released by Washington on December 14, 2010.
Bio
Career Bio: PLAYER: Notre Dame (1995-1999), Indianapolis Colts (1999-2008), Washington Redskins (2009-2010)MUSIC: Hunter is a member of Connersvine, a two man rock band. The duo signed a record deal with INO Records shortly before Hunter was crowned champion as a member of the Super Bowl XLI Indianapolis Colts. Connersvine is known for it’s inspirational acoustic rock music. The duo feels it’s purpose comes from a call to worship by leading and ministering through Christian music. Career Highlights: • Two time Pro Bowl Alternative• Ranked in the NFL’s top 10 for average yardage per punt 6 of 12 seasons (1999-2010)• Ranks 3rd in Colts history for career punt attempts and total average yardage per punt• NFC Special Teams Player of The Week (November 15, 2009)• Appeared among the highest number of victories by an Indianapolis Colt, 114 (recorded at the end of the 2008 season)• Super Bowl XLI Champion (Indianapolis Colts)• 3x AFC Special Teams Player of The Month (January 2006, December 2005, September 2000)• AFC Special Teams Player of The Week (2000)• NFL All-Rookie Team selection (1999)• All Independent First Team (Notre Dame-1999,1998) Family Bio: Husband. Father. Christian. Musician. Football player.Ask Hunter Smith to define himself, and he’ll tell you who he is much more important than what he does. While Hunter is best known as the punter for the Super Bowl XLI Champion Indianapolis Colts, he says he’s a husband to Jennifer and father to Josiah and Samuel before anything else. “I won’t always have football,” Hunter said. “But I will always have my family. My first responsibility is to them, so I want to be the best husband and father I can be. I want to teach my kids to lead at home, at church, and in the community.”Hunter takes his responsibility as a dad seriously. As a spokesman for All Pro Dad, the fatherhood initiative started by Tony Dungy, Smith often attends the Dad and Kid Events held in Indianapolis, and speaks about the importance of fatherhood to different civic and business groups.When he’s not on the field or ministering to the community, Hunter spends time with his wife Jennifer and his two sons, Josiah and Samuel. Hunter spends a lot of time outdoors with Josiah and Samuel. One of their favorite things to do is going fishing. It doesn’t matter if it’s jumping on the trampoline or going for a swim, it’s always a cherished time when the All Pro Dad is with his family.
Volunteer:
• Helped plant Every Nation Church in Indianapolis• As an Indianapolis Colt, he served as an instructor for the 101 and 201, an annual women’s football clinic• As a musician, he loves volunteering to lead worship services• Hunter participates in weekly Bible studies in his community; he feels it is his earthly duty and responsibility to minister to others• In 2001, Hunter traveled to Peru with a non-denominational ministry, Morningstar International, with a purpose to improve the physical, mental, and spiritual lives of impoverished people
Additional Information:
• Named one of the “Top Evangelicals in Sports Today” by Beliefnet.com• In 2007, Connersvine performed in Houston at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion as part of the 25th anniversary celebration for Christian radio station KSBJ• In 2005, Hunter wrote and performed a song on the Bob and Tom Show, titled “The Most Accurate Holder to Ever Play The Game”
