'Our Swiss Army knife': Hunkus contributes in all phases of game for Hilliard Bradley
Michael Hunkus is referred to as “our Swiss Army knife” by Hilliard Bradley football coach Mike LoParo for his dependability to get the job done in any situation. However, that wasn’t always the case.
The senior wide receiver/defensive back/punt returner/kick returner/emergency quarterback almost lost his spot on the team in the summer before his junior season. LoParo took away Hunkus’ helmet to bring about a transformation into the versatile athlete who now fills so many roles for the Jaguars.
“Michael was not in a good place,” LoParo said. “He was hanging around the wrong people and getting into trouble. One day over the summer between his sophomore and junior year, he missed a practice and that was it. I went over to his house, took his helmet and told him he had to earn it back.
“He has been a different kid ever since that day. He’s been a great student and is no trouble. He has matured so much. He’s someone that we really can depend upon.”
Through six games, Hunkus was second on the team with 20 catches for 195 yards and three touchdowns. He had 31 tackles at defensive back and one interception. On four kickoff returns, he had a 25.8 average.
“Coach took my helmet,” Hunkus said. “That really motivated me to get back on the field and motivated me to do what I love.
“That really helped me focus and get back into it. That helped me to zone in on football. It really showed me how I really didn’t want to do anything else and how important it was to me.”
Last season, Hunkus had 14 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, he had 14 tackles with one sack and one interception.
“Michael really is our Swiss Army knife. He does it all,” said LoParo, whose team was 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the OCC-Central Division before playing Hilliard Davidson on Sept. 30. “Probably some of that maturity over the past year is one reason why, but he has played all of the positions.
“He was a quarterback when he came into the program and then he was a wide receiver and then he played (defensive) back last year and more this year. He catches punts, he catches kicks. He’s a just good, solid skill kid.”
Hunkus also came in as an emergency quarterback twice last season when starter Bradyn Fleharty was injured. He was 9-for-25 passing for 154 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
“My primary role is probably a receiver because I have been playing the majority of my life on the offensive side of the ball,” he said. “I have played defense as well, but I was more focused on the offensive side.
“I played quarterback until my sophomore year and then they put me at receiver and defense and moved me around. I love getting the ball in my hands in open space and being able to do what I can do in the open field. Also, you have to get this key block here and a key block there.”
Hunkus believes his background as a quarterback has helped him improve his play all over the field.
“I think I can read defenses better because of seeing it from the backfield (as a quarterback) for so long,” he said. “Seeing it in the backfield helped me a lot when I was in the slot or out as a wide out. I usually know what they are running (defensively) and that helps me to get open.
“I like the mental part of the game. It’s as much mental as it is physical. You have to think and read what they are doing. I like to know what they are doing before they do it. On defense, I like to look at the film and see what their tendencies are on offense. It’s the same for their defense. I have an upper hand if I know what they are going to do before the ball is snapped.”
The Jaguars had lost three in a row before playing Davidson. Hunkus said the team needed to stay strong mentally.
“Keeping your head up and moving forward,” he said. “Some teams get down on themselves when something goes bad and they can’t get back up from that. If we can just keep our heads up and keep moving forward I think we can get out of that.”
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Football: Hunkus contributes in all phases for Hilliard Bradley
