It’s still unclear whether Travis Hunter will play wide receiver, cornerback, or both at the NFL level—just as he hopes. But what is clear is his elite talent and athleticism, which helped him capture the 2024 Heisman Trophy. Regardless of where he lines up, Hunter is a bona fide superstar.
His rare combination of size, speed, and versatility makes him a nightmare matchup on both sides of the ball. With draft day approaching, one analyst made a bold comparison to a Hall of Famer to give fans a glimpse of what to expect from the Colorado Buffaloes standout.
Travis Hunter Compared to Hall of Fame DB Champ Bailey
A standout at both wide receiver and cornerback, Travis Hunter earned national recognition for his rare ability to dominate on both sides of the ball during his college career at Jackson State and Colorado.
Originally committed to Florida State out of high school, Hunter made headlines when he flipped to Jackson State to play under Deion Sanders—another legendary two-way player—becoming the first five-star recruit to ever sign with an FCS program. When Sanders took the head coaching job at Colorado, Hunter followed, making the leap to the FBS.
During his time at Colorado, Hunter racked up 153 receptions for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns. On defense, he tallied 66 total tackles, 16 pass breakups, seven interceptions, and a forced fumble—cementing his status as one of college football’s most versatile and electrifying talents.
While there rarely has been a player with similar numbers as Hunter on both sides of the ball, PFSN’s Jacob Infante dug into the Hall of Famers and found Champ Bailey as the best fit for the Heisman Trophy winner.
Infante wrote, “It’s not easy to find a player who compares seamlessly to Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner with rare two-way capabilities.
“To find a good match, you have to go back a few decades to another two-way player in college who recorded three interceptions and five offensive touchdowns in his last year at Georgia before becoming a Hall-of-Famer.
“Champ Bailey was one of the best defenders of his generation, and while that’s a high bar for Hunter to reach, he seems capable of at least coming close. Both have tremendous ball skills, elite athleticism, the ability to play in all three phases of the game, and sharp instincts in coverage.”
Champ Bailey was selected seventh overall by the Washington Redskins in the 1999 NFL Draft. In just his second season, he made headlines by starting a game on both offense and defense, recording three catches for 78 yards. After that, he transitioned exclusively to cornerback—and thrived. Bailey went on to earn 12 Pro Bowl nods, three first-team All-Pro selections, and finished his career with 832 solo tackles, 52 interceptions, and 203 passes defended.
Whether Travis Hunter will eventually focus solely on defense remains to be seen. But for now, he’s determined to take snaps on both sides of the ball at the next level.
Hunter’s Mock Draft Projection
In PFSN’s latest two-round mock draft by Cameron Sheath, Hunter is projected to be picked third overall by the New York Giants.
Sheath wrote, “Sanders was an option here, too, but Giants general manager Joe Schoen’s career is reliant on the team being competitive in 2025. Hunter is the second blue-chip prospect off the board and, like Carter in Cleveland, would give the Giants one of the league’s best partnerships.
“In this case, though, Hunter would be paired up with 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers to give New York one of the best receiving duos in football. The acceleration of both players would give the offense an advantage on every passing down. Hunter also possesses incredible body control and contested-catch ability and is arguably an elite receiver prospect without his dual-threat ability.
“That versatility is more than just a bonus, though. Hunter would immediately be one of the best young corners in the NFL, with the team having to decide where his primary focus should be. The historical significance of a draft selection is never clear at the time, but Hunter has the potential to be a generation-defining prospect in the NFL.”
