Athens, GA – June 15, 2025 — As the Bulldogs prepare for another dominant season under Kirby Smart, Georgia has brought back a familiar face: former linebacker Jaden Hunter has officially joined the coaching staff as a defensive analyst.
Hunter—a product of Smart’s first full recruiting class in 2017—played at Georgia for two seasons before transferring to Western Kentucky. During his UGA tenure, he appeared in four games in 2018, then earned a redshirt. At Western Kentucky, Hunter became a fixture on defense, appearing in 51 games and compiling 133 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, earning All‑Conference USA third-team recognition in 2021 .
Off the field, Hunter has pursued coaching as his calling. After spending the 2024 season as outside linebackers coach at Georgia State—under former UGA running backs coach Dell McGee—Hunter returns to Athens to support Georgia’s defensive staff. He also coached at Buford High School prior, illustrating a steady climb through the coaching ranks .
A second-generation Bulldog, Hunter is the son of Brice Hunter, a standout wide receiver at Georgia in the early 1990s. His mother, Brandi Decker, played basketball at UGA, giving him deep roots in Athens and a strong understanding of Bulldog culture .
Hunter announced the hire on X (formerly Twitter) late Saturday night, writing: “Full Circle!! #GodIsGood ❤️” . The timing follows another staff shakeup: earlier in the offseason, Georgia lost former assistant linebackers coach Jarvis Jones to a high‑school head coaching opportunity .
Kirby Smart has made a habit of embedding former players into his staff—Scholars like Will Muschamp, Andrew Thacker and Chidera Uzo‑Diribe are all part of the current defensive scheme, bringing collegiate and professional experience to the table . Hunter’s addition fits this philosophy, blending institutional knowledge with a fresh coaching perspective.
As Georgia’s starlit defense evolves in 2025, Hunter’s knowledge of the Bulldog system—and his ability to relate to today’s players—will boost preparation, game-planning, and on-field execution.
—