Two-way players are extremely rare in the NFL. Then again, the talent NFL Draft prospect Travis Hunter possesses is also rare.
Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy while playing both cornerback and wide receiver at Colorado. Now, ESPN’s Louis Riddick is arguing that whichever team selects Hunter shouldn’t pigeonhole him to one side of the ball.
ESPN’s Louis Riddick Argues Travis Hunter Should Play Offense and Defense in NFL
Playing both sides of the ball is something usually reserved for high school athletes. There, it’s much more common for players to be able to rely on their athleticism and natural ability instead of their mechanics and practice habits. At higher levels, players typically find a niche, at least in terms of playing only offense or defense.
Hunter, though, was an exception to the rule while playing at Colorado, and Riddick argues that he should continue to be an exception to the rule in the NFL.
“I think you need to find a way to make it work. You’re limiting what this kid’s effectiveness could be, what this young man’s effectiveness could be if you limit him to one side of the football,” Riddick said.
“Look, personally, I would start him off on the defensive side of the ball because that’s an every-down position. You don’t rotate guys in and out of cornerback, and he is someone, who just by the sheer volume of plays, would have more chances to really affect the game on that side of the ball at a position that’s at a premium in the NFL, that being corner, because of the way people throw the football.
“Now, obviously, at wide receiver, you can selectively work him in there in situations and move him around in different situations to where you can pretty much assure the fact that you’re going to get the ball in his hands and then let him be electric like he is. But there’s no way I would want to limit him to just one side of the football.”
.@LRiddickESPN says keeping Travis Hunter in one position could limit his effectiveness.
“There’s no way I would want to limit him to just one side of the football … He’s too transcendent of a talent to do that.” pic.twitter.com/MJmUvPiEVw
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 27, 2025
Hunter excelled while playing cornerback and wide receiver for the Buffaloes. In 2024, he posted 96 catches for 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in 13 games. Then, on defense, he had 36 combined tackles with four interceptions, 11 pass defenses, and one tackle for loss.
“He’s true transcendent. In the true sense of the word, he’s too transcendent of a talent to do that. To do that, you’d be intentionally be holding back one of the great athletes that we’ve seen come along in this game for reasons that would be just unfathomable to me. So, I’d start him off on defense, work him in on offense, and let him roll from there, and he’ll be, potentially, an All-Pro on both sides of the ball.”
In 2024, Hunter won the Heisman Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year award — both honors are usually awarded to offensive players. He also won the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to college football’s best defensive player.
Hunter Wants To Continue Playing Both Ways in NFL
It’s clear Riddick would be disappointed if an NFL team decided not to allow Hunter to play on offense and defense at the next level. Hunter would be, too.
While speaking to reporters at the NFL Combine, Hunter shared he is ready to contribute on both sides of the ball for any club.
“They say nobody has ever done it the way I do it, but I tell them I’m just different. I am a different person,” said Hunter.
Travis Hunter wants to play WR and CB in the league. 👀
📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ASFO5xa9Oh— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025
PFSN’s Marco Enriquez called Hunter “the best all-around player” in the 2025 class and added that it’s “not particularly close.” He had Hunter projected to go to the New England Patriots at No. 4 overall.
The bigger questions around Hunter are what Riddick tried to answer — will he only play one side of the ball? if so, will it be on offense or defense?
