Travis Hunter wants to be both a cornerback and wide receiver at the next level, and he does not want any team to stop him. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner sent a stern warning to all 32 NFL teams.
In a recent interview, Hunter said that if a team tries to limit him to one position, he’d rather walk away from football entirely. That’s how serious he is about playing both ways.
Travis Hunter to NFL: ‘It’s Never Playing Football Again’
In a CBS Sports interview, Hunter made his intention to play both positions abundantly clear. He reiterated it multiple times and was also quizzed about what he would do if a team tried to restrict him. He declared in no uncertain terms that he would shut it down.
“It’s never playing football again. Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”
Hunter has already proven he can do it at every level so far. Hunter scored fifteen receiving touchdowns last year while being a full-time cornerback. His 1461 snaps last season were almost equally split between defense and offense, and he managed to play both at an elite level by college football standards.
It will be harder in the NFL with the step-up in the quality of opponents, but Hunter believes he can do it. He has also been trained by one of the few people who have come closest to pulling off what Hunter is trying to accomplish. Deion Sanders, his college head coach in Jackson State and Colorado, was a cornerback who also played as a wide receiver in the NFL. Sanders had a career-high 475 receiving yards in 1996. Hunter is proud to have learnt from one of the best to have done it.
“It’s been a blessing learning from the best to play that position, and you want to be better than him, so it’s good to be in that position. Just him telling me to just be where my feet are and take every moment and enjoying, knowing you only get to do it one time.”
Hunter Headlines NFL Draft Attendees
Hunter leads a list of 17 prospects who will be attending the NFL draft in person in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Miami Hurricane quarterback and projected 1st overall draft pick, Cam Ward, will also be in attendance, as will Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter. Hunter, Carter, and Ward are all projected to go in the top five picks.
Shedeur Sanders, Hunter’s college quarterback, is not among the attendees on the list, indicating he will stay home. His absence opens up room for someone like Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who will be in Green Bay despite not having much buzz as a first-round pick.