Travis Hunter isn’t backing down from his vision of being a two-way star in the NFL. The Heisman Trophy winner made it clear that if a team tried to limit him to just one position, he’d consider stepping away from the game altogether.
“If they told me I could only play one position, I wouldn’t play football again,” Hunter said in an interview with CBS Sports. “I’ve done this my whole life, and I love being on the field. I feel like I can dominate on both sides of the ball, and that’s what I enjoy most.”
That’s a powerful statement aimed at NFL teams ahead of next week’s draft. While Hunter isn’t demanding to be a full-time starter on both sides, he does expect to contribute as both a wide receiver and a cornerback. Whether as a primary player on one side and a situational weapon on the other.
In 2024, Hunter logged a staggering 713 offensive snaps and 748 on defense, proving he’s capable of handling a full workload. He credits the pace of NFL games with an average of 35 seconds between snaps and the relatively low contact at his positions as reasons he believes he can handle playing both ways.
“I’m confident in myself,” Hunter said. “I’ve got that competitive drive. I believe I can do whatever I set my mind to and I truly feel like I can thrive doing both.”
Still, NFL teams will face logistical challenges if they want to maximize Hunter’s rare versatility. Would he spend more time in the receiver or defensive backs meeting room? Could dividing his preparation time affect his development or the team’s overall chemistry?
Those are the types of unique questions Hunter presents, questions that only come with players who have the potential to redefine positional roles. As the draft nears, Hunter continues making his case in media appearances, including a recent conversation with NBC Sports’ Chris Simms.
“There are a lot of teams that don’t know what to do with me,” Hunter admitted. “They saw me do it in college, and most people didn’t think I could even pull it off there. But I’ve done it, and I’ve done it well. So teams are still figuring out how to use me. I think once I’m in the building, they’ll get a sense of what I can handle and how I perform.”
Projected to be a top-five pick, Hunter is likely to land with a team already at the top of the draft or one willing to make a bold move up the board. Either way, in just over a week, we’ll find out which team will have the privilege and challenge of unlocking Travis Hunter’s full potential.
