Spoiler warning: This guide discusses major events from Off Campus Season 1 and Elle Kennedy’s related books.
Hunter Davenport became one of Off Campus Season 1’s biggest surprises during its final episodes. Viewers initially knew Charlie Evans’ character as Carter St. James, a stranger Allie meets during her complicated relationship with Dean. The finale then reveals his real identity and gives him a much larger role in the television story.
Hunter is a hockey player from Elle Kennedy’s connected Off Campus and Briar U novels. Charlie Evans plays him in Prime Video’s adaptation, where the writers dramatically changed his introduction. The series connects him directly to Allie, Dean, and Summer, setting up conflicts that did not happen this way in the books.
Quick Facts
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Character | Hunter Davenport |
| TV series | Off Campus |
| Actor | Charlie Evans |
| False name used | Carter St. James |
| College | Briar University |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Major book | The Play |
| Book series | Briar U |
| Connection to Dean | Teammate in the books; rival in the TV adaptation |
| Connection to Allie | Television-only romantic complication |
| Season 2 status | The series has been renewed, with production completed in 2026 |
Key Takeaways
- Charlie Evans plays the mysterious hockey player introduced as Carter St. James.
- His real identity is revealed at the end of Season 1.
- The television adaptation significantly changes his relationship with Dean.
- The series created his hookup with Allie rather than copying it from the novels.
- Elle Kennedy later makes him the male lead of The Play.
- Season 2 completed principal photography during 2026 and is now in post-production.
Who Is Hunter Davenport in Off Campus?
The television version first appears without telling viewers his real name. Allie meets him while trying to put emotional distance between herself and Dean. His apparent identity, Carter St. James, comes from a fake ID, not his real name.
That choice makes the Season 1 finale much more significant. Carter arrives at Malone’s and is revealed as Briar University’s newest hockey player. Dean immediately recognizes him, and their confrontation turns physical.
The series also suggests their hostility involves Dean’s sister, Summer. Season 1 doesn’t fully explain that history before it ends. That unanswered connection gives the adaptation another storyline to explore later.
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How the Books Introduce Him
Elle Kennedy’s novels handle the character differently. He appears in the wider hockey circle before eventually becoming a lead character. His most important story arrives in The Play, the third novel in the Briar U series.
Kennedy’s official description presents him as Briar’s new team captain. He decides to focus on hockey and school after distractions hurt the previous season. That plan gets complicated when he develops a close friendship with classmate Demi Davis.
Demi, not Allie, becomes central to his eventual romance in the books. Their relationship develops through friendship, attraction, and a shared school project. This makes the television storyline a meaningful departure from the published story.
Book Version vs. TV Version
| Story element | Books | Prime Video series |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Joins the wider Briar hockey circle | Appears secretly as Carter St. James |
| Relationship with Dean | Generally friendly teammate connection | Open hostility and rivalry |
| Allie connection | No comparable romantic storyline | Allie hooks up with him |
| Summer connection | Connected through the wider Briar story | A mysterious past relationship is suggested |
| Main romance | Demi Davis | Not yet established onscreen |
| Narrative purpose | Eventually leads The Play | Creates Season 1’s final major twist |
The difference matters because viewers cannot assume later seasons will follow Kennedy’s books scene by scene. The show has already combined characters and storylines from different parts of the fictional universe. Its Hunter storyline is one of the clearest examples.
Showrunner Louisa Levy has explained that the writers wanted access to characters beyond the earliest novels. Introducing future characters earlier gives the adaptation more ways to connect its seasons. It also allows familiar book relationships to develop differently on television.
Who Plays the Character?
Charlie Evans portrays the character in the Prime Video series. The Australian actor had appeared in projects including Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, Leave the World Behind, and Paradise. His real role in Off Campus was intentionally kept quiet before the finale reveal.
Evans has said he originally auditioned for the role of Carter St. James. He learned the character’s true identity after getting the role. Keeping that information limited helped protect one of Season 1’s largest surprises.
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Why the Finale Twist Matters
The reveal does more than expose Carter’s real name. It puts another person directly between Dean and Allie before their relationship stabilizes. Their existing arrangement already left both characters uncertain about commitment.
Dean’s personal history complicates the situation further. His anger suggests the disagreement predates Allie’s involvement. References to Summer indicate the conflict may stretch back to the characters’ earlier lives.
That creates two separate questions for Season 2. Viewers need to learn what happened between the two hockey players and how Allie reacts. The writers can develop both conflicts without immediately reaching the character’s later book storyline.
What Could Happen in Season 2?
Prime Video has confirmed that Season 2 will focus on Dean and Allie’s romance. The streamer also shared updates from the Season 2 set during September 2026. That makes the cliffhanger especially relevant to the next chapter.
Production information shows the second season completed principal photography in 2026. The project was listed in post-production by October 2. No confirmed U.S. premiere date was listed in that production update.
Set reporting also placed Charlie Evans filming scenes with Stephen Kalyn during September. The actors were seen working together at the University of British Columbia. That provides recent evidence that the rivalry continues into the new season.
Fans should still separate confirmed information from predictions. The books offer possible clues, but the television adaptation has already changed major relationships. Therefore, a direct adaptation of The Play cannot be assumed yet.
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Why His Story Is Different From a Typical Book Adaptation
Many adaptations introduce characters close to their original chronological appearance. Off Campus instead brings later figures into the story early. That gives the producers more freedom to create connections across Kennedy’s larger fictional universe.
The approach also gives book readers uncertainty they would not have with a direct adaptation. Knowing the novels does not reveal every television twist in advance. The Carter storyline demonstrates how familiar characters can receive new motivations and histories.
This change may also help future seasons connect Off Campus with Briar U. The books already share characters and settings across the two series. Television can make those connections even more explicit.
The Importance of The Play
The Play is essential reading for anyone who wants the character’s largest book storyline. Kennedy identifies it as the third Briar U novel. Its central relationship pairs the hockey captain with Demi Davis.
The novel follows him after a difficult previous season affects his priorities. He initially decides that romance should take a back seat to hockey and school. His growing friendship with Demi challenges that decision.
Viewers shouldn’t expect that plot to come in immediately. Season 2 is officially positioned around Dean and Allie. The adaptation may therefore keep developing Hunter Davenport before reaching material from his own novel.
What Viewers Should Watch Next
Rewatching Episodes 7 and 8 provides the clearest setup for the character. His conversations with Allie become more revealing once viewers know who he is. Dean’s reaction also carries more weight after the finale reveals they already know each other.
Book readers can then compare those episodes with Kennedy’s connected novels. The Score, The Chase, and The Play provide useful context for several overlapping characters. The television series should still be treated as its own continuity.
For continuing entertainment coverage, readers can follow Smagazinego’s latest entertainment stories. Readers can then check new Season 2 information against official announcements as Prime Video releases it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hunter Davenport?
He is a fictional hockey player from Elle Kennedy’s connected college-romance books. Charlie Evans plays the character in Prime Video’s television adaptation. The show introduces him through the false identity Carter St. James.
Is Carter St. James his real name?
No. Season 1 reveals that Carter St. James is the identity associated with his fake ID. The finale exposes his actual identity when he arrives at Malone’s.
Who plays him in Off Campus?
Australian actor Charlie Evans plays the role. His previous screen credits include Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, Leave the World Behind, and Paradise. His casting was kept quiet to protect the finale surprise.
Does he date Allie in the books?
No comparable Allie relationship appears in the original book storyline. The show created their hookup as part of its altered Dean-and-Allie plot. That change helps create the Season 1 cliffhanger for the television adaptation.
Which book is about him?
His main novel is The Play, which Elle Kennedy lists as Briar U Book 3. The story focuses on his captaincy, personal priorities, and relationship with Demi Davis. It gives readers much more detail than his earlier supporting appearances.
Will he appear in Off Campus Season 2?
Current evidence strongly supports his continued involvement. Charlie Evans filmed Season 2 material with Stephen Kalyn during the 2026 production period. The season had moved into post-production by early October 2026.
Final Takeaway
The Season 1 twist transforms a future book lead into an immediate source of conflict. His new history with Dean and unexpected connection with Allie give television viewers a story the novels cannot fully predict. That balance between familiar characters and changed relationships makes his next appearance especially significant.
Season 2 should answer more questions about Dean, Summer, and the rivalry the finale established. The books remain useful background, but they are no longer a precise roadmap. For U.S. viewers, the safest approach is to follow confirmed Prime Video updates rather than assume every novel event will reach the screen unchanged.
