Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter has taken the college football world by storm with his elite two-way ability. He’s a projected top-three pick in several mock drafts, but the biggest question surrounding Hunter is how NFL teams will utilize him.
There’s no precedent for an NFL player regularly playing both cornerback and receiver, so teams have been cautious about defining his role. Amid the debate, Hunter has made it crystal clear that he doesn’t want to limit himself to one position, and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman agrees.
Keon Coleman Believes Travis Hunter Can Be a 2-Way Player in NFL
Coleman shared his thoughts on Hunter’s chances of playing both ways in the NFL once he is drafted and backed the Colorado player’s belief that he has the talent to do it. However, the rookie receiver suggested Hunter might not get the chance if a winning team drafts him.
“I’m glad I’m not making that decision. I think you might as well do it; that is what his motto has been. You might as well let him try it out.
“If he’s going to a franchise that’s winning, he ain’t doing that. They not going to play that. But if you end up with [a] rebuilding team, they might as well let him do it to see what he could do.
“I think he’s capable of it, he’s showing it,” Coleman concluded.
Hunter has put up impressive numbers at both positions, with 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver and 36 tackles, 11 passes defensed, four interceptions, and a forced fumble as a cornerback.
The big question remains: How will NFL teams use him?
Some organizations view Hunter primarily as a receiver who occasionally plays cornerback. Others see him as a CB first with the ability to contribute at WR. Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry stated that Cleveland sees Hunter as a receiver first. Meanwhile, Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan had a different take, saying he views Hunter primarily as a cornerback.
Hunter, however, sees himself as something entirely new — a hybrid star. Skeptics question whether such a demanding two-way role would take a toll on his body, but Hunter isn’t worried.
“Nobody has done it, but I feel like I’ve put my body through a lot,” Hunter explained at his NFL Combine press conference. “I do a lot of treatment; people don’t get to see that part. … But I know I can do it. In college football, we rarely get breaks, but there’s a lot more breaks in the NFL.”
Hunter believes he can be a trendsetter, paving the way for more two-way players in the league.
“Hopefully, it becomes a thing,” he said confidently.
Hunter was listed as a cornerback at the NFL Scouting Combine, but that was strictly for logistical reasons. His draft stock continues to rise, and in PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft by Ian Cummings, Hunter is projected to be picked No. 3 overall by Tennessee following a hypothetical trade with the New York Giants.
Regardless of which team selects him, Hunter is one of the most dynamic talents in recent memory. The NFL may soon witness a prospect who breaks the mold.