Travis Hunter dominated college football like few players ever have. He flipped from Florida State to Jackson State, then followed Deion Sanders to Colorado, where he became a two-way superstar and won the Heisman Trophy in 2024. Now, as he prepares for his rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the biggest question isn’t about his talent. It’s whether he can handle the mental and physical demands of playing both sides of the ball at the NFL level.
Can Travis Hunter Handle Both Sides of the Ball in the NFL?
Jahleel Addae, who played in the NFL from 2013-2021, had some strong praise for Hunter when discussing the player he is most excited to see.
“All the hype around Travis Hunter, we all know what he can do, what kind of plays he can make. But I want to see, is he going to want to truly play both ways?”
That’s the million-dollar question facing Hunter as he enters the league. Addae pointed out that playing both offense and defense takes a “toll” on players in multiple ways.
“Can he take on the toll, not only physically, but mentally? Being in the NFL, learning those playbooks are totally different than the playbooks you’re learning in college. They saying he’s the best athlete since Primetime Deion Sanders. I think he has the opportunity to be that. But can he handle both mentally and physically on both sides of the ball?”
“I think he has the opportunity to be [the best athlete since Deion Sanders.]”
Former NFL CB Jahleel Addae is looking forward to seeing Travis Hunter at @Jaguars training camp. pic.twitter.com/cZcyfRHp6l
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 22, 2025
How Does Hunter Compare to Deion Sanders?
The comparison to Sanders isn’t made lightly. Sanders was a special breed in every way. He played cornerback and wide receiver, and on top of that, he had quite the career in the MLBÂ as a dual-sport athlete that we might not ever see again.
Sanders was a nine-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion while being used primarily as a defensive back.
However, Addae believes Hunter has what it takes to reach that level, even calling him “one of the unicorns.”
“These are the unicorns of the world in the NFL. Can he do it week in and week out? I’m excited to see what Travis Hunter can do,” Addae concluded.
Hunter certainly proved himself at the college level. He was electric in college on both sides of the ball, and his Heisman Trophy campaign was one for the ages.
But the NFL presents a different challenge entirely. Hunter now finds himself in the same division as star quarterbacks such as C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson, plus top wide receivers such as Stefon Diggs and Michael Pittman Jr. The adjustment from college to the professional level could be tough early on, from both the physical and mental aspects.
