The Travis Hunter show is back.
After Hunter’s latest dominant performance against the North Dakota State Bison in Week 1 of the 2024 college football season, his future NFL position is once again the hottest topic.
Was Week 1 an argument for WR over CB?
Travis Hunter Enjoys Monster Week 1 Performance Against North Dakota State
The Colorado Buffaloes opened their 2024 season with a win — a close 31-26 contest against FCS opponent North Dakota State. The defense once again had its ups and downs, but the team’s most important pieces shined.
Shedeur Sanders threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns in his season debut, and the even bigger story was the complete and utter dominance of Hunter, who caught seven of Sanders’ passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns.
Hunter also made plays on the defensive side of the ball, providing lockdown coverage and stalwart play in run support. Hunter also played over 100 snaps — a testament to his stamina.
But many onlookers came away from Week 1 in awe of Hunter’s receiving ability.
In this game alone, Hunter more than halved his TD total from the entire 2023 campaign, and his big-play genes were on full display.
On his first TD, Hunter took a short completion for massive RAC yards, using his speed and bend to break early tackling angles.
On his second TD, Hunter showed off his incredible nuance and control at the catch point, baiting a defender into over-running an end zone pass.
Hunter’s third TD, however, was by far the most impressive — and the most celebrated.
TRAVIS HUNTER, HOW⁉️pic.twitter.com/NoKMaErpVI
— College Football Network (@CFN365) August 30, 2024
On a quick end zone route, with a defender draped all over him, Hunter somehow pried through his opponent’s frame and snared a high fade route, displaying mind-bending control.
Simply put, no one finds the football and controls the catch point like Hunter does. His Week 1 showing was a clinic in that area, and it may be a feather in the cap of those who fantasize about his future as an NFL receiver.
Hunter’s Week 1 Showing Proof of His Unmatched Potential at Wide Receiver
Hunter is a unicorn as an NFL Draft prospect. He could feasibly play both wide receiver and cornerback if he wanted to.
Though it might be more difficult to hold up in the NFL with that two-sided role, Hunter has the talent and nuance at both spots to potentially do so.
That said, Week 1 was a particularly good example of just how extraordinary Hunter can be at WR. The exciting part is that relatively few of his wins in Week 1 derived from one of his best traits, which is his route running.
Hunter weaponizes his elite athleticism and bend incredibly well as a separator, but Week 1 was Cirque de Hunter, with Hunter specializing in his acrobatic plays and vertical ascensions at the catch. His blend of timing, coordination, flexibility, and focus truly sets him apart.
I’ve been of the mind that Hunter (my preseason WR1) might fit better at WR long-term — not only because of his catch-point instincts and his separation freedom, but also because of his stylistic tendencies.
This blurb from Hunter’s scouting report goes into greater detail:
“At the NFL level, Hunter might be better served to focus on one position more than the other to avoid spreading himself too thin. But this is also true: We simply haven’t seen anything like Hunter. And he could be the rare prospect who pulls off being a true two-way player.
“To reach the blue-chip range at either position, adding additional mass and improving his play strength will go a long way. But at WR, Hunter’s preferred brand of physicality — deconstruction as a separator rather than obstruction as a coverage defender — may be more translatable long-term.
“At WR, Hunter would be a dynamic three-level threat as a movement-Z receiver. And he’d be well-equipped to dominate in a space-dominated modern NFL, so long as he can become a competent run blocker.”
Hunter can separate, make plays at the catch point, and accrue RAC yards at a combined level that few WRs can boast. Ball-hawks of his caliber at CB are very difficult to find, but a WR with Hunter’s special three-level framework is also few and far between.