Deion Sanders is not a fan of NFL teams that won’t allow Heisman winner Travis Hunter to play both sides of the ball. The Colorado coach and former NFL superstar made his stance clear on the latest episode of The Rich Eisen Show, where he spoke about his likes and dislikes when it comes to his favorite pupil, Travis Hunter.
Deion Sanders Delivers Blunt Message on Hunter’s NFL Transition
On Friday night, the Colorado coach indulged in a warm interaction with Rich Eisen on his show. He touched on several matters, including his son Shedeur’s NFL draft prospects and potential landing spots for cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter. That’s when he made his intentions crystal clear.
Any team that doesn’t utilize Hunter to his maximum potential on both sides of the ball cannot draft him, according to Sanders. He also mentioned that any such attempts would lead to the Heisman winner returning to college for one more season under NCAA eligibility.
The @CUBuffsFootball head coach had a simple message for those #NFL teams that won’t allow Heisman Trophy winner @TravisHunterJr to play both sides of the ball next season:#GoBuffs #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/JOjvzBMRIg
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) December 21, 2024
“Travis could definitely [play both sides of the ball],” Deion said on the Rich Eisen show. “He’s going to do that, or they shouldn’t draft him. Don’t do that. And I’m going to make sure of that. Don’t draft him if you’re not going to give him an opportunity to play on both sides of the ball.”
“Now, you can be creative. He doesn’t have to do what we did with him here and play every snap… You’re going to look like an idiot with your best receiver sitting on the bench and you can’t get open; you can’t get the ball down the field,” he added.
The two-way star previously mentioned his plans to play both offense and defense when he enters the NFL. After his Heisman victory last weekend, Hunter spilled beans on his potential landing spots, but under one condition: He is not forced to become just a wide receiver.
Travis Hunter Could Be a Patriot
According to Pro Football Network’s latest 7-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft, Hunter lands with the Patriots and coach Jerod Mayo as the No. 3 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Once a powerhouse, the Patriots need someone who can balance both offensive and defensive units. Who else could be a more suitable candidate than Hunter in this year’s class?
“Drake Maye looks the part early in his NFL career, but the Patriots are lacking at several positions on both sides of the ball. If the 2025 NFL Draft ends up ordered like this, they could have the chance at arguably the top player in the class.
As a wide receiver, Travis Hunter has the athleticism, route-running savvy and ball skills needed to get open and make big plays. I project him even better as a cornerback, where his route-recognition skills are strong, and his ball skills would immediately put him in the NFL’s elite in that category. Pairing him and Christian Gonzalez in the secondary would give New England something truly special for its defense.”
Hunter is a phenomenal athlete who can be a trustworthy target for any quarterback and a prime weapon on defense to cover deep down the field.
