Earlier in the week, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders made an appearance on the popular “Rich Eisen Show” to discuss numerous topics, including his star player Travis Hunter. In the interview, Sanders made clear that NFL teams should look into the talents of Hunter, only if they allow him to play as both a receiver and a cornerback.
The dual-threat Hunter has enjoyed a remarkable season on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football, something that has resulted in him recently winning the Heisman Trophy and being projected by many analysts as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
What Did Deion Sanders Say About Travis Hunter?
In the interview, Sanders made clear that Hunter was too talented on both sides of the ball to not play both positions at the next level.
“I mean, he’s gonna do that, or they shouldn’t draft him. Don’t do that. And I’m going to make sure of that. Don’t draft him if you’re not going to give him an opportunity to play on both sides of the ball,” he stated.
Sanders continued by explaining how coaches deciding against playing Hunter on both sides of the ball may begin to feel pressure from fans and management in certain situations. For example, if the offense is struggling and you don’t play Hunter offensively, or vice versa if the defense is struggling and you avoid playing him defensively.
Hunter’s 2025 NFL Draft Projection
Hunter is expected to be one of, if not the first overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. This sentiment is shared by Pro Football Network’s Ryan Gosling, who believes that Hunter will be selected No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in his recent mock draft.
As Gosling notes, “Travis Hunter has put together one of the most impressive seasons in recent memory. The dual-threat weapon can play on both sides of the ball at an elite level and could do something that has never really been done at the professional level — play offense and defense.
At both positions, two traits stand out as central qualities to Hunter’s game: His hyper-elite athletic profile and his generational ball skills and catch-point instincts.
San Antonio, we here. 🦬 pic.twitter.com/wFKMhnJTcZ
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) December 24, 2024
As a cornerback, Hunter’s ability to sense where the ball is going and position himself to make plays is truly extraordinary, and it separates him as a deadly turnover-generating force. But those same catching instincts also make him reliable as a receiving threat on offense.
The Jaguars don’t need a QB at the top of the draft, so they make the easy choice of bringing in The Greatest Show on Turf (Vol. 2).”
Though it remains to be definitively seen whether Hunter plays on both sides of the ball at the professional level, it is clear that Sanders believes that only those teams who intend to allow him to do so should be the ones that draft him.