There are few prospects as intriguing as Colorado’s Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, defeating Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty for the coveted award this past collegiate season.
What draws teams to Hunter is his ability to play both sides of the ball. He was a standout wide receiver and cornerback for Colorado. And he has played both sides of the ball his entire football career, dating back to high school.
Travis Hunter Provides Unique Upside in 2025 NFL Draft
There are certainly great prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. Players such as Penn State’s Adbul Carter, Miami’s Cam Ward, and Michigan’s Mason Graham all provide incredible upside at their positions. And they can certainly make an immediate impact.
However, all of those players are limited to one position on one side of the ball. Hunter is a unicorn of sorts. He has the unique ability to impact both sides by catching a crucial touchdown pass on offense before picking off a potential touchdown on defense.
Of course, playing both sides in the NFL is quite challenging. There is certainly an increased physical demand at the next level. Beyond that, there needs to be enough time dedicated to learning how each coaching staff wants both positions to be played.
As a result, there are certainly some teams who want him to stick to one position yet if he can stand out on both sides, Hunter would quickly establish himself as the most valuable player in the NFL.
Hunter wants the chance to play both sides for whichever team drafts him. And he is not the only one who wants to see it. NFL Network’s Isaiah Stanback has thrown his support behind Hunter after he impressed at the Colorado Pro Day.
Travis Hunter Gets Ultimate Praise From Former Super Bowl Champion
Stanback, a former Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, recently appeared on “Good Morning Football” where he and the rest of the crew discussed Hunter’s performance at the Colorado Pro Day. Stanback, speaking frankly, dropped a major endorsement of Hunter’s ability to play both sides.
“Stop trying to put limits on this man. He’s an absolute beast,” Stanback said on April 8. “We haven’t seen this. Stop trying to compare him to what you have known (for) it to be. He is not human, he is not of this Earth. So let him be.”
There is certainly some credence to Stanback’s point. We have not seen a player of Hunter’s ability in a long time. Not necessarily his ability at one position but his ability to play two positions and do so at an extremely high level.
Comparing Hunter to any modern player, in this regard, feels a bit off. There is no two-way star in the NFL, although there are players who changed positions after being drafted. Hunter’s situation is an anomaly of epic proportions.