Travis Hunter is likely going to be drafted with one of the first five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. It is very possible that Colorado’s two-way superstar could be selected No. 1 overall.
There are not any questions about his talent and whether he deserves to play on the next level.
However, there are questions about Hunter’s position. No player in NFL history has played both wide receiver and defensive back in a legitimate capacity. Can he be the first?
For example, Hunter played 123 snaps on both sides of the ball against Colorado State last weekend. The former No. 1 overall recruit only missed two snaps, total, during the entire game against North Dakota State. He is doing something that has never happened before in college football. That’s insane!
Although Hunter is doing what he is doing with the Buffaloes, a lot of analysts expect him to have to specialize in one position when he gets to the NFL. People don’t think his body will be able to handle the wear and tear of two positions. They worry that he won’t reach his full potential because he has to do more than one thing at once.
Travis Hunter doesn’t agree.
The third-year defensive back and wide receiver told Caroline Fenton of Yahoo Sports that he is going to play both ways in the NFL just like he does in college.
I mean, there’s a lot of people that have been telling me that [I can’t play both corner and receiver] since I’ve been playing it. So I’m just going to continue to prove them wrong. Keep proving the haters wrong […]
There’s a lot of haters, even the top dogs. Top dogs are hating on me, but I let it go through one and out the other, just let them keep them.
— Travis Hunter Jr.
It takes a lot of work to keep his body healthy while constantly putting it through the ringer. Hunter is constantly getting treatment to stay fresh and worked closely with head coach Deion Sanders to come up with a practice plan that doesn’t take too much of a toll on his body.
If an NFL team is willing to draft Travis Hunter Jr. with an open mind, it would lead to a historic career. Even if two-way eligibility is not possible forever, the player is up to the challenge and has proved his ability to dominate on both sides of the ball. Why not let him try until he can’t?