Margus Hunt on switching to American football
The 2006 world junior discus champion Margus Hunt of Estonia has switched sports. He's become a big success in American football, setting a record of blocked kicks for the season at Southern Methodist University (SMU). spikesmag.com catches up with 6ft 8in Hunt to chat about life in his adopted sport and his future plans for athletics…
You were a prodigious junior thrower (Hunt also won the 2005 European Junior title) so how did you get into US football?
Coming here to
SMU in autumn 2007, I knew they didn't have a men's track and field programme, so I gambled and hoped that I could help bring it back. Once we found out it wasn't going to happen, I faced the prospect of either choosing another school or going back to Estonia. But I didn't want to leave SMU or my coach Dave Wollman, so we decided to try out for the football team.
Did you have any experience of playing the game before you started at SMU?
No, not at all.
What was the most daunting aspect of taking up US football?
At first it was getting used to the physical impact and learning the plays. I also had to understand what I did was important, because my teammates were depending on me.
Can you explain how the first few training sessions went?
I can sum it up shortly – confusing! Everything was live and not on a piece of paper. But I got used to the tempo and the more I practiced the faster I learned.
What is the biggest problem you have to overcome?
Trying to keep myself motivated. At times I feel really tired and I just want to give up and fall down, but something inside me makes me stand up and execute the play.
Do you have any amusing stories about being a US footballer?
The story how I missed my career's first "sack", probably. It was the first game of the season and my first ever game playing football. During the final minutes I rushed out of my stance, hit the opponent’s offensive lineman really hard and as I let go of him, the quarterback was right in front of me. It happened so fast I didn't see that he had the ball and he just ran from me. Although my teammate tackled him and the play was saved, the situation looks funny on tape.
What do you like about playing defensive end?
It's fun. I can rush on the quarterback and keep him under pressure. I also have the chance to play someone face to face and impose my will on them.
Have you been a regular for the SMU Mustangs?
If you mean a starter, then no. If you mean as a back up, then yes. In the first couple of games I didn't get that much playing time, but as the season went on, I started to learn the game more and I feel that I'm now a good backup if our starter does get injured.
How do you think you have performed so far?
Beyond my imagination. I had hopes and dreams about this game, but I never thought this first season would be so exciting.
How does you background in the discus help you as a footballer?
In discus you have to do a bunch of movements in less than a second and you have to execute them well if you want to throw far. It's kind of the same way in football. You have to be fast off the ball, go with your instincts and execute the fundamentals.
What is your best football memory during your fledgling career?
It’s hard to say because every moment is important when I get on the field. But it has to be the sound of the stadium when I got my first field goal block. I remember that sound well.
What do you hope to achieve in football in the future?
I don't think too far into the future. I just want to take it each day at a time right now and see where I end up.
Is football or athletics now the main priority?
It has been football recently, but I've tried to get some throwing in when I can. And when I'm in the weights room I sometimes pick up a light weight and do discus movements in front of the mirror. I still want to keep discus as my main priority.
Do you have a favorite team?
Dallas Cowboys. Probably because it was the only team I knew about before arriving here!
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