Jalyx Hunt used to visualize running onto an NFL field. On Sunday, he’ll do just that on its biggest stage.

NEW ORLEANS — When Jalyx Hunt was in high school, his parents gave him some advice. The Eagles outside linebacker had been competing in the Junior Olympics in long jump and triathlon. They told him to visualize running a fast time, or having a good jump.

He did, and found success, so he began to apply the mental practice to football. Hunt split his college career between Cornell (2019-21), where he played safety, and Houston Christian (2022-23). Every time he ran out of the tunnel, he’d visualize himself running onto an NFL field.

“I’ve always envisioned being here,” Hunt said. “I used to do a full circle and picture myself in an arena. Didn’t matter where it was, who I was going to play for. Just a packed stadium — much like it’ll be on Sunday [against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX]. The moment never felt too big for me, because I always pictured myself there.”

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That pregame ritual has helped him adjust to life in the NFL. The rookie, who was taken by the Eagles in the third round of the draft, is well aware that Cornell and Houston Christian aren’t football powerhouses. He said it was a recurring topic that was brought up before he arrived in Philadelphia.

Reporters would ask if he thought he’d be able to play at this level.

“[They’d say] a lot of players went to big schools, they did this, they did that,” Hunt said. “It doesn’t matter to me. I’m sitting in the locker room full of Georgia players, people from Division I, Power Five, five stars, four stars.

“I was no stars coming out of high school, and now we’re in the same room, playing on the same field.”

The difference in Hunt’s background compared to other Eagles defensive linemen — for instance Georgia alums Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, and Jordan Davis — is real, but not something they take very seriously.

Hunt said he and his teammates joke about it all the time.

“They’re like, ‘Y’all didn’t have these at Houston Christian Texas Baptist, huh?‘” Hunt said. “Always joking around.”

Joking aside, this season has been an adjustment for him. Because of the visualization Hunt did throughout college, playing in front of crowds isn’t too daunting. But there were areas he said he needed to address — mainly building stamina for a longer schedule and learning to play more intentionally — that he was able to work on throughout the season.

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After Brandon Graham and Bryce Huff suffered injuries during the regular season, Hunt got more opportunities to refine his game. He went from mostly out of the Eagles’ edge-rusher rotation entirely at the start of the season to regularly getting snaps for a Super Bowl-bound team.

He took 42 snaps from weeks 1-10, and 279 from Week 11 on, including the Eagles’ three playoff games.

Hunt has taken advantage of that time, and seen real improvements. Heading into the Super Bowl, he’s now a key cog in the Eagles’ defense.

“Understanding rushing and setting up a game plan [is the biggest difference this year],” Hunt said. “I used to just rush out the ball, I didn’t really have a game plan. But once I got to the top of my rush, it was really … it is what it is at this point. But now I’m able to go in with a plan, and talk through my rushes now, way more than I was before.”

Added Graham: “I see a confident guy, especially right now, in these practices, moving fast. You can tell that everything is starting to slow down for him.”

Hunt credits his coaches — particularly his position coach Jeremiah Washburn — with helping him through his first season, as well as his teammates, who have provided a lot of advice. Now, he’s trying to soak it all in.

After the NFC championship game, Hunt found his 2-year-old niece in the family section. He brought her out to the field, and they danced together as confetti fell from the sky.

“She loves to dance, I love to dance,” he said. “I was [singing], ‘We’re going to the bowwwlllll,’ and we just started dancing together. A lot of people on this team have struggled for years, or haven’t been to the Super Bowl before. I can’t take it for granted, not at all.”