Colorado two-way star and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is one of the top prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. He finished his final collegiate campaign by helping the Colorado Buffaloes secure a 9-4 campaign.
Hunter is also one of the four players from Coach Deion Sanders’ team invited to the 2025 Scouting Combine. Two NFL legends debated on what could be his possible time in the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis.
Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson Debate Travis Hunter’s 40 Time in the Combine
On an episode of “Nightcap” on YouTube, former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson discussed Hunter’s potential performance in this year’s Scouting Combine. Johnson spoke about how he is excited to see the two-way star being invited as a cornerback and predicted the possible time he could score in the 40-yard dash.
“I like that he’s going in as a DB,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be nice. I’m excited to see him, especially in the drills to see his transition, how smooth he is, him getting in and out of breaks, ball skills, stuff like that.”
“I think he gonna do very, very, very well. And I’m saying when it’s time to run the 40 (yard dash), I wouldn’t be surprised if he run 4.2.”
Sharpe disagreed with Johnson’s take about Hunter’s 40 time.
“I don’t see him as that fast,” Sharpe said. “I think high four threes, low four fours. He too long of a stride to run like that I think, Ocho. You think he got that kind of speed in him? He got that kind of wheels?”
During his career at Collins High School, Hunter ran the 40-yard dash at 4.2 seconds. Thus it is safe to say that Johnson is not too far off from his prediction.
However, it will be interesting to see if he has developed his speed during his collegiate career.
CFB Analyst Shares Assessment of Hunter’s Skills
Hunter has been the center of discussion amidst the upcoming NFL Draft. CFB insiders Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick also gave their assessment of the two-way star’s talent and athleticism.
Wasserman praised Hunter by highlighting his high football IQ and versatility. He also talked about his ball security, stating that he has what it takes to be an offensive threat in the league.
🔥 Travis Hunter : High FB IQ. PFF dissects #12’s game and playing both ways in the NFL
“He always knows what he is doing. His hands are ridiculous, ability to go up vertically, and understand how to set up routes. Interesting to see who presents Travis with a plan”
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— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) February 16, 2025
“He always knows what he is doing and I’m gonna mention this on both sides,” Wasserman said. “But it’s the incredibly high level of football IQ, right? His hands are ridiculous. His ability to go vertically and get the football. He understands how to set up his routes.
“The speed, the ability to find his way open, and his ability after the catch I think is extraordinary.”
Hunter is definitely an interesting prospect this year. It will be interesting to see if the team that drafts him in April allows him to continue playing on both sides of the ball. Or will they have him focus on one position for maximum efficiency?