TOMBALL, Tx. — Reversing direction in twitchy, rapid-fire movements, Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter was a blur of explosive footwork as he hustled through an intense workout Wednesday morning. Hunter provided a glimpse of what quarterbacks will have to worry about alongside Za’Darius Smith.
The Vikings’ veteran pass rusher worked at his craft alongside teammate Janarius Robinson with elite trainer Rischad Whitfield, “The Footwork King,” who trains multiple players across the NFL, including Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Danielle Hunter excited to work with Za’Darius Smith
Hunter demonstrated that his surgically repaired torn pectoral is fully healed. And he provided a glimpse of what quarterbacks now have to worry about as part of a formidable tandem with newly-acquired Vikings defensive end Za’Darius Smith, who signed a three-year contract with a maximum value of $47 million.
Between Hunter and Smith, the Vikings have gifted bookend pass rushers who have combined for 105 career sacks. They’re a matchup nightmare in the NFC North.
“I’m very excited,” Hunter said. “I see him every year with the Packers. He goes against our quarterback, and I know what he’s going to bring to the table before he gets out there. It will be a good combo between us and all the defensive linemen we have out there.”
When the Vikings acquired Smith after a deal with the Baltimore Ravens unraveled, he recognized the significance of what he and Hunter could do together harassing quarterbacks and disrupting plays.
“Big shout-out to Danielle Hunter,” Smith said. “Happy to be here to get a chance to play with him.”
Fully healthy and ready for 2022
The workout with Whitfield got Hunter energized. He was able to shed some rust accumulated after being placed on injured reserve after recording 6 sacks in seven games last season. Hunter had recorded 14.5 sacks in both 2018 and 2019, displaying what the former third-round draft pick from LSU can accomplish when he’s healthy.
“Today was a pretty good day,” he said. “First day back, it was pretty good work. Every offseason, we come back and get some good work in. (Whitfield) knows his stuff, so that’s what we like.”
A workout for Hunter is significant in the sense that the past two seasons haven’t gone according to plan. Two seasons ago, he had neck surgery to repair a herniated disc, and he missed the entire season. Then, he hurt his chest last season. Now fully healthy again, Hunter can’t wait for the season.
“I feel great,” he said. “The last two years were pretty unfortunate, but I just got to stay positive and have positive people around me. My family has been there. My coaches have been there, so I’m ready to go this season.”
Now, Hunter will work to prove himself to a new coaching staff as the Vikings are in the middle of several changes. They fired coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman, replacing them with Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
“We’re very excited,” Hunter said. “The new staff, they seem very chill. All of the players seem to like them, the head coach and GM. It’s a good camaraderie and atmosphere going on in the building.”
Hunter stays true to his roots
Born in Jamaica, Hunter and his family moved to Katy, Texas, outside of Houston when he was eight years old.
At Morton Ranch High school, he emerged as an all-around athlete as a 6-foot-6, 225-pound defensive end who doubled as a track and field standout. He had 16 tackles in his final high school football game. Hunter won the district title in the high jump, placed fifth in the long jump, and sixth in the 400-meter dash.
Hunter grew up emulating Michael Strahan and was mentored by older players like Everson Griffen, Brian Robison, and Linval Joseph.
‘We had a lot of older guys on the team, and they were all there to mentor me,” Hunter said. “I was 20 years old coming in. It was a good time to learn.”
Every offseason, Hunter gets back to his roots in Texas to be with his family.
“It’s home, you know I grew up out here,” he said. “My family still lives out here. Every offseason, I come and stay with them. I don’t get much time to see them during the season, so it’s always good to come out here where I started working as a child. Just every year you got to start back in fundamentals, hands, feet, eyes.”