Analyst Emory Hunt is a known fan of Colorado’s dual-threat Travis Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy on Dec. 14 for his exceptional production on both offense and defense. His skills as a cornerback and wide receiver are widely discussed throughout NFL Draft circles, and with him being NFL-bound, the comparisons to NFL athletes have started flooding in.
NFL Fans Divided as Emory Hunt Compares Travis Hunter to NFL Stars
While showing highlights of Hunter’s plays on both sides of the ball during a broadcast on CBS Sports HQ, Hunt said:
“As a receiver, you break down the skills, his skill set, his size and quickness, is more like Garrett Wilson of New York Jets but his hands is like DeAndre Hopkins. When we put him under the microscope as a defensive back, he’s Trevon Diggs with great hand-eye coordination because Diggs was a former receiver turned corner, but he is Sauce Gardner in terms of coverage ability.”
“… You can get four players in one. So unique, so dynamic, I would rather him play wherever he wants to, and you can’t tell him he can’t do because that’s all he’s ever done. So this is someone who can play wide receiver and cornerback at the pro level.”
.@FBallGameplan compares Travis Hunter's receiving abilities to Garrett Wilson and DeAndre Hopkins while comparing his defensive abilities to Trevon Diggs and Sauce Gardner. pic.twitter.com/d2qjg4Zjac
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 27, 2024
Some NFL fans, however, were not keen on this take.
“Lol. No. Y’all got to stop. He could start at WR or CB in the NFL, but he’s not elite at either. Quit it already. 🙄,” a fan said.
“Y’all quit hyping this kid up and let him play, the man is nowhere close to either of those guys. Hopkins would be the best WR in cfb and sauce at his position, he’s not close to being the best at either position,” another fan wrote.
Meanwhile, others were all for the idea of an NFL team letting him play both offense and defense.
“Whatever team that drafts him has to let him play both. Not full time maybe but either nickel corner and full time wr or full time corner with a package at WR maybe in the slot,” a fan noted.
Many agreed that Hunter resembled New York Jets wide receiver Wilson, who won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022.
“Travis Hunter as a wide receiver vs Cincinnati. Reminds me a lot of Garrett Wilson as a receiver. A supremely gifted athlete who’s very smooth, but there’s a chaos and messiness to his route running,” a fan wrote.
Travis Hunter lol
If he plays full-time WR he's same tier with Tetairoa McMillan in my opinion.
He's good at things you can't practice, look at the burst after the catch and ability to make defenders miss.
I see Jerry Jeudy/Garrett Wilson twitch in his game. pic.twitter.com/SILnidYmyW
— Snoog's Fantasy HQ (@FFSnoog) December 17, 2024
A few fans also had some throwaway lines about the situation.
“Imagine he wins offensive & defensive rookie of the year,” a fan joked.
According to Pro Football Network’s latest mock, Hunter is projected to be selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots who have crater-like holes on both their offensive and defensive lineups.