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Linebacker Keeling Hunter has given his verbal commitment to play college football for the Villanova Wildcats, according to his prep school's Instagram account. The announcement was made late on Wednesday night.
Hunter played high school football at Tennessee's Franklin Roads Academy before opting to reclassify to the 2016 class and spend a postgrad year in prep school at the Peddie School, based in Hightstown, New Jersey. He checks in at a reported 6'0" and 220-pounds.
Yahoo/Rivals rated him 2-stars in the 2015 class and showed medium interest from a number of FBS schools. He was unrated by 247Sports as well as ESPN, and not listed at all on Scout.com.
A two-time Division II-A all-state selection in Tennessee, Hunter was not happy with his recruiting situation at the end of his senior year -- which prompted the decision to re-classify. He finished with 113 total tackles last fall, 20.5 for a loss, and he scored three defensive touchdowns. He appeared to be interested in academics as part of the move, citing an interest in a number of Ivy League schools in the Spring.
This is the ninth verbal commitment for Andy Talley's program this year, and the first linebacker to join the class.
Check out his highlight reel below and welcome Keeling to 'Nova Nation!