Lay headed to Philly's Penn
Footballer Hunter Lay will be a Quaker in the prestigious Ivy League; senior edge rusher/OLB rehabbed his shoulder, kept his offers and is eager to explore his opportunities.
What a difference a few months can make …
Earlier this year, Hunter Lay was finishing his junior year at Mullen, training for football and tore a labrum in his left shoulder. He rehabbed it, started the opener for the Mustangs in his senior season, then reinjured it and had to have surgery.
However, despite missing virtually the entire 2022 season, Lay, an interesting edge rusher/outside linebacker, still had multiple offers, including from major college programs.
And this week, he pledged to the Pennsylvania Quakers.
“He’s going to the Ivy League!” an excited Mustangs head coach Jeremy Bennett said.
For Lay, 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, it was an easy choice while eyeing his future.
“So, basically, for me,” Lay said, “it came down to what I was studying (business and finance) and where I wanted to go. Penn’s business school, the Wharton School, is the No. 1 business school in the world.
“For the football part, (the Quakers) tied for second in the Ivy this year. And then Philadelphia being a big city, it has a lot of opportunities and careers and connections to set me up … they’re amazing, all amazing.”
Lay said doctors have told him he’s ahead in terms of repairing his shoulder – he’s already in the weight room and seeing results – and was fortunate to keep his offers. New Mexico State, Nevada, Columbia, Air Force, Army, Rice, San Diego State, Cornell, Princeton and Montana stayed in the picture to the end.
“Yeah,” Lay said, “it was pretty nice to settle down and none of the teams decided to pull my offers. I’m grateful for that.”
Bennett is convinced Lay’s character had a lot to do with it.
“It’s because he communicated,” the coach said. “He called every coach and told them (about his injury). I think that went a long way. His priorities are in line.”
Lay never missed a workout, practice or game, Bennett added, and his grade-point average (approaches 3.9) tops the full package he offers.
“Here’s the thing – I think he comes in and helps (the Quakers) right away,” Bennett said. “There’s a need. They graduated a couple of end rushers. He’ll be fully engaged and can come in and be the guy. I think he can do it.
“It’s a really smart thing for Hunter.”
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