THE IUP Football Thread

[Matt Witwicki]

Glad that Karst Hunter finally made his decision and can now move on with things. Northern State (SD) seemed like the likely landing spot for him (all things considered) and they have NIL $$ that not a lot do at this level. When it came down to it....I think Hunter wanted to get out of the shadow of South Dakota State (where he started his collegiate journey) to a place that has shown the best chance to get him a shot at a ring. Hunter is still friends with his ex-teammates at SDSU and this gives him a chance to forge his own path outside of the boundaries of the state of South Dakota.

Northern State and WT haven't seen the playoffs in the modern window of D2 football while IUP has and were a game away from the final four a year ago. I think that matters here quite a bit. Hunter was close to the playoffs as a starting frosh at Mesa in 2021..but they narrowly missed the dance in a 8-2 campaign (lower SOS) in which they beat CO Mines. I felt he shined more in that season than in this last one with a new regime and challenged ballclub.

Keep in mind, Hunter is an athlete first..who plays quarterback. He will likely make equal amount of plays with his feet than he will through the air..if used properly. He's run in a Josh Allen style..big guy with wheels who won't shy away from contact.

Some video of him can be seen here.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/16095234/karst-hunter

Not that they weren't already..but the Hawks will be a team to watch for certain.

[Ship69]

They had a lot to sell to a QB this year -- and not just Tort's favorite IUP gear from the Co-Op Store.

They'll have a very powerful and massive OL (Sexton may have got hit like twice all of last year). He'll have two stud WRs in Ridley and Lockhart (and one coming off redshirt in Omar Stewart who may light it up this Fall). They are also heavily in the mix for the big 6'5" WR from Robert Morris (terrible team but very good player). They also have speedster Isaiah Houser ready for a breakout season. They have Dayjure Stewart, JD Younger and Adam Houser back at RB. They have a several big target TEs. It should be a pretty fun season to be the IUP QB (and OC).

Hunter has serious wheels, too, for as big as he is. Tort isn't going to go Lenny Williams with him but IUP hasn't had a QB who could take off and be a legit running threat in a long time.

The ripple effect, obviously, is will both signed high school QBs still show up in August.

Sigh, and I guess the folks at Ship decided playing you guys and Shepherd wasn't bad enough this season, so we added Newberry to the schedule. I can see why Homecoming was scheduled late with Lock Haven this season.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Most Pennsylvania residents tend to underestimate what our state has to offer. When I was in college I had a job pumping gas one summer, and tourists passing through the station would often remark how beautiful they thought the state was. I lived in the Midwest until I was 16 and loved the lake country in Wisconsin and Michigan, but hilly states such as Pennsylvania, particularly with its forested areas, have a charm of their own. And it's not a bad state to retire in.

They had a lot to sell to a QB this year -- and not just Tort's favorite IUP gear from the Co-Op Store.

They'll have a very powerful and massive OL (Sexton may have got hit like twice all of last year). He'll have two stud WRs in Ridley and Lockhart (and one coming off redshirt in Omar Stewart who may light it up this Fall). They are also heavily in the mix for the big 6'5" WR from Robert Morris (terrible team but very good player). They also have speedster Isaiah Houser ready for a breakout season. They have Dayjure Stewart, JD Younger and Adam Houser back at RB. They have a several big target TEs. It should be a pretty fun season to be the IUP QB (and OC).

Hunter has serious wheels, too, for as big as he is. Tort isn't going to go Lenny Williams with him but IUP hasn't had a QB who could take off and be a legit running threat in a long time.

The ripple effect, obviously, is will both signed high school QBs still show up in August.

[Ship69]

Checks aside, I got the impression the kid just wanted to get away. Having lived in the Dakota’s I can tell you it’s…well…awful. His visit here, despite not walking into a pretty stadium like they have at West Texas A&M, was impactful. Living here you sometimes take for granted what IUP and Indiana has to offer. Then there’s whatever magic Tort seems to come up with. It’s impressive.

I’ll give Tort credit. Despite his quotes after last season about just hoping to win the region, he’s not approaching the off-season like it.

Most Pennsylvania residents tend to underestimate what our state has to offer. When I was in college I had a job pumping gas one summer, and tourists passing through the station would often remark how beautiful they thought the state was. I lived in the Midwest until I was 16 and loved the lake country in Wisconsin and Michigan, but hilly states such as Pennsylvania, particularly with its forested areas, have a charm of their own. And it's not a bad state to retire in.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Baseball got a sweep at SRU today -- both shutouts.

[IUPNation]

Karst is Twitter official

Whoever is writing the checks needs to max it out so he can add more!

[Chuck Bitner]

Karst Hunter is a great get for IUP. He had many options, including a handful of FCS programs and at least one FBS team. I saw him play a few times as a freshman and sophomore at Colorado Mesa. He is a special talent.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Karst is Twitter official

[ironmaniup]

They allegedly got a QB named Jesus. Last name Christ.

Joking aside, Karst Hunter is a MASSIVE signing.

He's 6'5", 225 lbs, dual threat, rocket arm, etc.

He had at least (5) FCS offers.

Thank Tort? Or, thank those writing the checks? Remember that.

He was also All stat hoops in South Dakota - Maybe Joe Offered to give him a spot during BB season. I see from Twitter he can dunk.

[EyeoftheHawk]

They allegedly got a QB named Jesus. Last name Christ.

Joking aside, Karst Hunter is a MASSIVE signing.

He's 6'5", 225 lbs, dual threat, rocket arm, etc.

He had at least (5) FCS offers.

Thank Tort? Or, thank those writing the checks? Remember that.

Checks aside, I got the impression the kid just wanted to get away. Having lived in the Dakota’s I can tell you it’s…well…awful. His visit here, despite not walking into a pretty stadium like they have at West Texas A&M, was impactful. Living here you sometimes take for granted what IUP and Indiana has to offer. Then there’s whatever magic Tort seems to come up with. It’s impressive.

I’ll give Tort credit. Despite his quotes after last season about just hoping to win the region, he’s not approaching the off-season like it.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I’m sorry, but who did IUP get?

They allegedly got a QB named Jesus. Last name Christ.

Joking aside, Karst Hunter is a MASSIVE signing.

He's 6'5", 225 lbs, dual threat, rocket arm, etc.

He had at least (5) FCS offers.

Thank Tort? Or, thank those writing the checks? Remember that.

[Tdobson]

I’m sorry, but who did IUP get?

[CUlater]

They'll probably rest the team on Clarion week and send the intramural team in its place. It will be tight, but the Golden Eagles will pull the upset in front of 38 fans at Memorial Stadium. That's my guess. The Fly will slowly wear out the Tri Lambda Lambda Fraternity team. The Omega Mu sorority will be fired up on the ride back to Indiana.

Yes but the real action will be at “the tailgate”. We’ll be handing out free stunners to the IUP faithful. It’s going to be biblical

[IUP Crimson Hawk]

What a huge get for Tort!!! Tort continues to show year in and year out he is the best recruiter in the whole region if not the whole country. Tort and the Hawks beat out (D1 FBS) Northern Illinois and West Texas A&M who have the best stadium and facilities in the country at the D2 level. Looks like the Hawks are going to have a great chance to repeat the PSAC Championship again.

[IUPalum]

This is a huge get and completes a roster that even before some big offseason additions was probably best in the region.. Will be very interesting to see how they find a way to under perform and let it go to waste.

Lol