Eagles Jalyx Hunt goes from calling GM 'Big Pimpin' to crash course on NFL at rookie camp

PHILADELPHIA − The first day of rookie minicamp can be eye opening for any draft pick.

But consider Eagles third-round pick Jalyx Hunt, an edge rusher, who played primarily in obscurity as a safety at Cornell before hitting a growth spurt, then transferring to Houston Christian, another football outpost where he switched to the defensive line.

Everything is different, from the coaching to the extensive playbook, even to the equipment manager, which Hunt said he never had one on a full-time basis.

So Hunt wasn't quite used to the attention he received when a video of him getting the call from Eagles general manager Howie Roseman on April 26 went viral.

Hunt responded to the call from Roseman with, "What's up, Big Pimpin?"

When asked about that Friday during his first NFL practice with other Eagles rookies and tryouts, Hunt laughed before saying: "It’s how I normally talk. I was really excited at the moment. It’s not how I handle business situations, per se. I had a little slip-up, but yeah, that’s how I normally am − 'Playa, Big Pimpin, Big Guy.'"

But beneath Hunt's gregarious personality was also a desire to learn as much as possible.

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On that same phone call, Hunt implored Eagles coach Nick Sirianni to send him the playbook. That's because Hunt, who has spent only two seasons as an edge rusher, far from the Power 5 conference limelight, knows he has a lot to learn.

"I just need the reps," Hunt said. "Outside of just getting the reps in day in and day out, I don’t think it’ll be a huge transition. But I definitely have to train like a pro, get my moves up to the pro level. My technique needs to improve a little bit. Yeah, I think the biggest transition is just being able to play consistently at this high level."

That work began Friday. It'll continue once the organized team activities begin May 20 with the veterans. For Hunt, that means learning as much as possible from Brandon Graham, the 36-year-old who's entering his 15th season.

"Man, I haven’t met him yet," Hunt said. "I’ve only heard his name. There are a couple of people in that (edge rusher) room that I’m ready to ask questions until they tell me to shut up. From (Graham), anything he’s willing to teach me, I’m willing to learn."

Really, it's like that with all of the Eagles draft picks, whether it's first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell and second-rounder Cooper DeJean learning from cornerback Darius Slay, or sixth-round center Dylan McMahon being starstruck upon meeting legendary center Jason Kelce, who retired two months ago, in the weight room Friday morning.

McMahon, asked to describe that interaction, said: "That was a pretty crazy moment because I watched hm since I was little playing football. He’s the best center to ever do it. Just to meet him and have him around this building to be able to pick his brain every once in a while will just be an amazing experience."

Kelce was taken in the sixth round back in 2011, at pick No. 191. McMahon was taken in the sixth round with pick No. 190.

"(Kelce) looked at me and said, 'Undersized center?' McMahon said with a laugh. "We have that in common."

It is those kinds of interactions that leave the Eagles confident that Hunt can develop into a top edge rusher despite his relative lack of experience.

"Goodness, he gets to be around (Graham) and that's huge," Sirianni said about Hunt. "Same thing for Trevor (Keegan) to be around Lane (Johnson) and Jordan (Mailata). That's a huge advantage to get (Hunt) around these guys. It's not only that person at that position; it's getting them immersed into the culture. Our culture is our behaviors, what you do every single day, over and over and over again."

That's why the Eagles believe that drafting an inexperienced player like Hunt in the third round was worth the risk.

For Hunt, there's so much to learn, and so many questions to ask.

"Everything is right under this roof," Hunt said. "So if I have any questions, I can go ask somebody. The guessing is taken out of it as well. Before this, I had just been doing things that I’ve seen pros do, or what a pro would do. Now I can just ask the question."

Eagles give a tryout to the former record holder in the 40

The Eagles had four tryout players at their rookie camp. One of them was wide receiver John Ross, who in 2017 set the record for the fastest time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine at 4.22 seconds.

Ross, who became the No. 9 overall pick in the draft that year, had the record until two months ago when Xavier Worthy ran a 4.21. Worthy was drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ross never panned out. He spent his first four seasons with the Bengals, never having more than 28 catches for 506 yards in a season. Ross last played in the NFL in 2021 with the Giants when he had 11 catches for 224 yards.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles Jalyx Hunt goes from 'Big Pimpin' to adjusting to NFL game