Football’s version of Shohei Ohtani, Travis Hunter is the face of college football at both wide receiver and cornerback. But will the Colorado Buffaloes’ star play both positions in the NFL, and just how high is his ceiling in the 2025 NFL Draft class?
Travis Hunter Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 185 pounds
- Position: WR/CB
- School: Colorado
- Year: Junior
Hunter shocked the nation when he flipped from the Florida State Seminoles to Deion Sanders’ Jackson State Tigers as the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class. He flashed his potential in his true freshman season but began to come into his own once he followed Coach Prime to Boulder, Colo.
We know he is a future first-rounder, but the question is: at what position? The answer is yes.
FREE: College Football Network Mock Draft Simulator
In all seriousness, Hunter could play WR and CB at an elite level in the NFL. However, teams won’t allow one of their star players to see 100+ snaps in a single game. Instead, I expect him to be drafted and play full-time as a game-breaking CB while having a 10-20 snap offensive package as a WR.
Hunter’s Scouting Report
Strengths
- Above-average length and reach to compress throwing windows.
- Speed to carry routes vertically with no issue and remain in phase.
- Resistenceless hips to flip and maintain momentum.
- Maintains leverage vs. high/low concepts and is routinely in the right position.
- Plays through WRs’ hands and times jumps/punches effectively.
- Possesses predictive eyes and elite zone awareness, keying in on QBs and often anticipating route concepts.
- Obvious ball skills when targeted.
- Has the hip sink and flexibility to snap down and break with elite route runners.
- Owns the hand/eye coordination and instincts to snatch INTs few others can.
- Easy acceleration and change of direction to recover at the line and execute bail technique.
- Vertical ability to jump with most WRs and can explode forward/backward when in a WR’s hip pocket toward the ball.
- Willing run defender with great awareness in pursuit.
Weaknesses
- Not an aggressive tackler and can whiff occasionally.
- Can get grabby against taller pass catchers.
- Stronger WRs can outmuscle him in contested situations.
- Opponents can control the point of attack in the run game and on the boundary in support.
- Needs to improve overly aggressive press technique that can allow WRs to stack him early.
- Two-hand jam can be mistimed and concede room for WRs to counter.
- Foot speed could be an issue in the slot but hasn’t played many reps there and likely won’t be asked to often.
- Physical WRs can take advantage of raised pad level and heel placement in soft press.
Potential NFL Landing Spots for Hunter
Hunter is a lock to be a top-five pick, let alone top 10. In the most recent College Football Network mock draft, the Carolina Panthers selected him No. 1 overall. However, there is one outside force that evaluators need to keep in mind: Deion Sanders.
Coach Prime has said that he would step in if the “wrong team” attempted to draft his son, QB Shedeur Sanders, or Hunter.
“Yeah, but I’m not going to do it publicly. I’ll do it privately,” Sanders said on Fox Sports 1’s “Speak.”
“I’m gonna be dad until the cows come home, and with Travis as well.”
Hunter’s 2024 Season Stats
After moonlighting as a WR his true freshman year and finishing as the No. 2/3 option last year, Hunter has cemented himself as the top dog in Boulder, leading the Buffs in receptions (69, seventh nationally), yards (856, 12th), and TDs (nine, t-sixth).
Defensively, he’s tied for the most INTs on the squad (two), owns the second most PBUs (seven), and even added a game-sealing forced fumble against the Baylor Bears earlier in the year.
Yet, there is one stat that stands above the rest: 118. That’s how many snaps Hunter averages per game — by far the most in the country.
When Is Hunter Playing Next?
There are only three games left in the regular season for the Buffaloes:
- vs. Utah Utes
- at Kansas Jayhawks
- vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
However, they will secure at least one more if they win out: the Big 12 Conference Championship.
Colorado is 5-1 in conference play and is currently No. 2 in the standings. In fact, if Hunter and Co. leave the title match victorious, they would book their ticket to the expanded College Football Playoff, where they are currently ranked No. 17.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.