Local man takes position with NFL

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Demopolis native Will Hunter has a job many red blooded American males would love: working for the National Football League. He left Demopolis Monday to begin his new position as Player Personnel Assistant in the New York office.

He will be working in the area of player contracts, and player trades and cuts, throughout the league. His department is crucial in preparing the "War Board" each year for the player draft. It will be a year-round job, Hunter said.

He will also help keep track of players who are allocated to play in the NFL Europe league.

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Hunter had previously served for the four-and-a half month season as operations manager with the Scottish Claymores football franchise in the NFL Europe league.

The son of Willie and Ann Hunter, is a former running back at Demopolis High School. He played under head coach Sean Bonds then Cody Keen. He graduated from DHS in 1996.

He went on to play football for Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

After a career in the textiles industry, he began working in public relations for the Southern Conference, of which Wofford is a member.

He learned of an internship opportunity with NFL Europe. He applied and was chosen. At the time Hunter began work with the Claymores, the team was hosting the World Bowl.

Working in the professional ranks, Hunter said people would be surprised at the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. "I never thought that so many people worked so hard," he said, "who were not on the (actual) field."

It is as much an entertainment event as a football game. The professional league wants to make sure the ticket holders are entertained, he said.

The staff of NFL Europe works twice as hard, Hunter said, because they are introducing American football to a new audience. "You’re teaching the game as well as entertaining the crowd.

Dante Hall who runs back punts for the Kansas City Chiefs started off with the Claymores, Hunter said.

He enjoyed living in Glasgow, Scotland. "It was great when it’s not raining."