University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has been bullish about star pupil Travis Hunter’s ability to play both cornerback and wide receiver in the NFL.
Hunter starred as a two-way player at Collins Hill High School in Georgia and again at the college level with both Jackson State University and Colorado.
But NFL teams typically shy away from having players – especially potential stars in the making like Hunter – play both sides of the ball, which is exactly why ESPN NFL Draft expert Matt Miller believes Hunter, a projected top pick in the 2025 draft, will have a crucial decision to make next offseason.
“I do think at some point, he’ll be really forced by NFL teams to make a decision [about which position he plays],” Miller said on SportsCenter Tuesday night, via On3. “…I think that ability to just hone in on one position, to say, ‘I’m going to work on understanding the intricacies of the wide receiver position or the technique of the corner position’ [is vital]. He’s going to have to make that decision.”
Hunter played in just nine of CU’s 12 games last season, missing three games while recovering from a lacerated liver after taking a late hit against Colorado State in the third game of the year.
But despite his injury, Hunter still finished second on the Buffaloes in receiving yards (721) and touchdown catches (five) and additionally led the team with three interceptions and five passes defensed.
While Hunter has shown he can play at a high level at both positions, the concern is that by splitting his time and attention between the two, he’ll never fully be committed to (or truly elite) at one.
“Personally, I think he has better upside as a receiver and a return man than he does at corner,” Miller added. “But that decision will ultimately be his. When we get to the NFL Scouting Combine in February, I bet we’ll have teams saying ‘Travis, where do you want to play in the NFL and how do you see yourself fitting into the program we have going here?’”