The 2024 marketing campaign was extensively anticipated to be Travis Hunter‘s remaining one on the collegiate degree. The 2-way Colorado star confirmed on Thursday he’s certainly headed for the NFL draft this spring. When requested if he would declare, the true junior mentioned, “That’s positively for certain” (h/t ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg). Unsurprisingly, Hunter can be among the many high prospects within the 2025 class. Over the approaching months, one of many essential speaking factors can be whether or not NFL groups consider him as a nook or receiver, however in any case, he is not going to want to attend lengthy to listen to his title referred to as on draft night time.
One of many high recruits of head coach Deion Sanders throughout his time at Jackson State, Hunter made historical past as the primary five-star recruit to decide to an FCS faculty. The nation’s high prospect was restricted to eight video games throughout his solely season at Jackson State, however he flashed appreciable potential on each side. He adopted Sanders to Colorado final offseason, and in 2023, Hunter scored 5 offensive touchdowns whereas including three interceptions.
That success resulted in a first-team All-American nod and the Paul Hornung Award (given to the nation’s most versatile faculty participant). Hunter entered 2024 with excessive expectations, and he has delivered to date with a 74-911-9 stat line as a receiver (to associate with one dashing landing). He has matched final yr’s interception complete on protection whereas including eight go deflections. After averaging almost 115 complete snaps per recreation final yr, Hunter has remained a mainstay on each side of the ball in 2024.
Will probably be fascinating to see if groups close to the highest of the draft board think about Hunter a nook, receiver, or participant able to dealing with a job on offense and protection. To little shock, he mentioned via Troy Renck of the Denver Post that he needs to play each methods on the NFL degree, however loads of time stays for a determinization on that entrance to be made.
Just one defensive again in NFL historical past has been chosen first general (Gary Glick in 1956), whereas 4 receivers have had that honor (the latest being Keyshawn Johnson in 1994). In a yr the place the quarterback place is not highly thought of, Hunter may discover himself in rivalry to listen to his title referred to as first in the course of the draft’s opening night time. In any case, NFL suitors can now proceed realizing he can be turning professional forward of the 2025 marketing campaign.
