Colin Cowherd made headlines with his comments about top 2025 NFL Draft prospect Travis Hunter. In a segment of his podcast, Cowherd expressed a bold prediction regarding Hunter’s future performance in the NFL.
Why Cowherd Believes Hunter Will Underperform in the NFL
During a discussion about the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine and 2025 NFL Draft prospects on The Colin Cowherd podcast, Cowherd shared his thoughts on Travis Hunter, asserting that the highly touted player might underachieve at the professional level.
“Travis Hunter is a player that could underachieve”@colincowherd & @JohnMiddlekauff on Travis Hunter’s NFL Draft stock pic.twitter.com/peHD6ylROe
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) February 24, 2025
“I’m gonna throw Travis Hunter out as a player…that could underachieve. I don’t doubt he’s good enough to be a number two receiver in the NFL and a number one corner. I don’t doubt either. But to ask to be both? I mean, if you had a great linebacker who also played tight end, it’s undeniable that the physical toll would hurt what you’re best at. I would put him at corner. But he wants to be a receiver.
“But you can’t be a number one receiver if you have a young quarterback who’s trying to get reps confidence and timing, it’s a timing position. Running back isn’t, cornerback isn’t.
[C]oming to a bad team, he’ll have a lot of leverage. He’ll play both ways. I could see that being a problem.”Given Hunter’s impressive college career and the high expectations surrounding his potential NFL future, Cowherd’s statement has understandably sparked debate.
After all, Hunter ascended the mountaintop in 2024, achieving what no other college football player ever has. The two-way sensation set a new record in college football history by winning seven awards in a single season:
- AP Player of the Year
- Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
- Chuck Bednarik Award – awarded to best defensive player in college football
- Consensus All-American
- Fred Biletnikoff Award – awarded to the most outstanding receiver in college football
- Heisman Memorial Trophy Winner
- Walter Camp Player of the Year
- Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy – presented to the defensive college football player of the year for their personal character and athletic abilities
- Led the Big 12 in receptions (tied for fourth nationally) and receiving touchdowns (tied for second nationally)
- Fifth in receiving yards in all of college football
The closest comparison, as mentioned by Cowherd and company, is Hunter’s coach at Colorado and Jackson State, Deion Sanders. Yet, Sanders was never a full-time two-way player. In 14 seasons, there was only one in which he had more than 11 targets as a wide receiver.
Cowherd believes Hunter will be a better cornerback than wide receiver, but he also noted that cornerback is a more instinctual position. That would mean Hunter could come in and make plays without needing as many repetitions in practice as he would at wideout. This is where the dilemma unfolds.
If Hunter were a better receiver than corner, the coaching staff would use Hunter more sparingly on defense, possibly on third downs. But, it would be difficult sidelining your top cornerback for the majority of the game just so he can be second on the totem pole on the other side of the ball.
Would Hunter be able to spend the majority of practice time with the offense, getting his timing down with the quarterback and still excel as CB1 on game day? Or would he be better suited taking his mentor’s route and sporadically clocking in on offense to keep defenses on their toes?
Football hasn’t seen an athlete like Hunter in a long time. Whichever team selects the unicorn in the 2025 NFL Draft has to be wise and show some restraint so as to maximize his talents and allow fans to enjoy what could be a lengthy and legendary career.