INDIANA, Pa. — Karst Hunter describes his college football career as a unique experience, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. 

The 2019 Miller High School graduate has played for three different college programs, across three different parts of the country and his career is nearing its end at Indiana University of Pennsylvania this season. 

“If you would have asked me when I graduated high school that I would end up at three different schools in three different parts of the country, I would not believe you,” Hunter said. “But every step of the way has had its moments and I have loved every step. I have created lifelong friendships at each one.”

Hunter’s college football path has included stops at South Dakota State University, Colorado Mesa University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Hunter, along with hundreds of other college football players, has taken advantage of the extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Miller High School graduate and Indiana University of Pennslvyania quarterback Karst Hunter (2) looks for an open receiver against Clarion University on Sept. 27. (Mia Goodlin / IUP Athletic Communications)

Hunter is a sixth-year senior quarterback for Indiana University of Pennsylvania and doesn't have any regrets during his long and winding college football journey, while praising each university along the way.   

“I haven’t had any regrets, especially with the places I have been,” Hunter, 23, said. “Colorado Mesa was great to me. IUP has been great to me. SDSU was great to me. I have met a lot of great people, but every stop has been nothing short of amazing. I have had a great time at all three places, on and off the field.”

After starring for Miller/Highmore-Harrold, Hunter joined the Jackrabbits and redshirted in 2019. He played in all 10 games in 2020-21, the COVID-19 FCS college football season and was part of the national runner-up team.

The Jacks have since won back-to-back FCS national championships in 2022 and ‘23, with Hunter saying he’s “loved every second,” following his former teammates’ success.

“There’s still a handful of guys on that team where I talk to almost every day,” Hunter said. “Me and Mark (Gronowski) still go back and forth a lot. It’s just cool you still have those friendships. You still have those relationships with those guys. I keep up with them just as much as I do my own team.”

As the Jackrabbits were ascending atop the FCS, Hunter was establishing himself as one of the top Division II quarterbacks. He transferred to Division II Colorado Mesa in 2021 and burst onto the scene for the Mavericks. 

In 2021, Hunter piloted the Mavericks to an 8-2 season and earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference offensive freshman of the year honors, setting Colorado Mesa single-season passing records in yards (2,481), completions (190) and completion percentage (62.5). In 2022, he threw for 2,146 yards and 15 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore. 

After the season, Hunter entered the transfer portal and fielded scholarship offers from Division II, FCS and FBS schools. Hunter took visits to Northern State, Northern Illinois, South Dakota, West Texas and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 

Indiana University of Pennsylvania is more than 1,200 miles from Miller, but Hunter said everything felt right on his visit and he ultimately picked the Crimson Hawks. 

“There was just something about the coaches, the team and the players who I met,” Hunter said. “The family feeling that they have. The brotherhood that they have. How close they were off the field. It just played a role in it.” 

Miller High School graduate and Indiana University of Pennslvyania quarterback Karst Hunter (2) looks for an open receiver against Clarion University on Sept. 27. (Mia Goodlin / IUP Athletic Communications)

On the field, IUP is an NCAA Division II powerhouse. The Crimson Hawks have qualified for the NCAA playoffs 20 times, have made seven national semifinal appearances and two national championship game berths. 

Currently, IUP is ranked 21st in the NCAA Division II coaches poll and it plays No. 9 Slippery Rock University (Pa.) on Oct. 5. It’s the only Division II matchup this week that features two nationally ranked, and undefeated programs.

That’s just a sampling of how big college football is in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and Super Region 1.

“It’s pretty high level,” Hunter said. “You are expected to win. You are expected to win every week and not just our school. There’s several schools in this conference that are expected to win every week, and that’s what their school demands. What their history demands. It’s big-time football out here for sure. Great competition. Every week we go in and compete and I wouldn't want anything else.”