Travis Hunter wants to become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL, and if it’s up to his head coach, he can become that player.
Colorado’s two-way star parlayed his offensive and defensive skills into becoming a Heisman Trophy winner, playing more than 1,000 snaps this season.
He also won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver and the Bednarik Award as defensive player of the year.
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Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter gestures after making a pass for a first down in the second half against Oklahoma State on November 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Experts consider him a cornerback in the NFL. But after Hunter caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards and scored 14 touchdowns on offense, Deion Sanders says whoever drafts him highest will allow him to make the most of his abilities.
“He’s going to do that, or they shouldn’t draft him. Don’t do that,” Sanders said on “The Rich Eisen Show” this week.
“And I’ll make sure of that. Don’t draft him if you’re not going to give him the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball.”
Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter does the Heisman pose after an interception against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
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Sanders said a team could be “creative” with Hunter.
“He doesn’t have to do what we did with him here and play every snap,” Sanders added.
Hunter played 670 offensive snaps and 686 defensive snaps, while also playing 24 special teams snaps. As a cornerback, Hunter had 31 tackles, 11 pass deflections and four interceptions, anchoring Colorado’s defense.
Despite projecting as a cornerback in the NFL, he could have been better on offense this year.
Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) is congratulated on a touchdown by head coach Deion Sanders in the first quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Folsom Field. (Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports)
Hunter is expected to be a top pick in April’s NFL Draft, and there’s a chance his quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, could be the top pick.
