Sports Illustrated Names Justin Hunter A Rookie To Watch

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Nov 10, 2012; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Justin Hunter (11) catches a pass against Missouri Tigers defensive back E.J. Gaines (31) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Missouri defeated Tennessee 51-48 in quadruple overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Burke, of SI.com, has recently been going around the league, naming certain rookies to watch in 2013.

Former Vol Justin Hunter was highlighted by Burke on Wednesday.

"High price tags both, and Patterson may have the highest ceiling of any rookie offensive player. So, why does it feel like the Titans pulled off a steal here?Maybe it’s because it was Hunter (and not Patterson) who led Tennessee in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns last season. Or that while Patterson carried a “raw” description into the draft, as a receiver who needed to hone his route-running and technique, Hunter was much further along in that development.Regardless of the reasoning, the Titans were able to wait until Round 2, save a fourth-round pick compared to Minnesota’s trade package and land a player that could compete for Offensive Rookie of the Year.“Justin is real good from what I’ve seen so far,” Kendall Wright, the Titans’ first-round pick in 2012, told Craig Peters of TitansOnline.com. – SI.com"

Check out the full story here.

There’s no doubt that Hunter will be a player to watch this season, one that the Titans expect big things from in 2013. Hopefully Hunter  can take care of his injured hamstring and stay on the field throughout training camp and the pre-season.

For more on former Vols in the NFL make sure to follow along on Twitter @vols_zach and @AllforTennessee