Travis Hunter took the football world by storm during the 2024 college season.
A star in every sense of the word, Hunter was CB1 and WR1 for Colorado, logging over 1,500 snaps at an elite level. For his efforts, Hunter won the Heisman Trophy, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players to grace college football.
The next step of Hunter’s journey will be in the NFL ranks, and his name will be one of the first called on draft night. While there is no question about Hunter’s status as a top prospect, there are questions about where he’ll line up during his rookie campaign.
As preparation mounts up, Hunter will head to Indianapolis for the NFL Draft Combine, where he is listed as a “cornerback.” What does that mean for his NFL future? Here’s how much you should read into his positional designation ahead of the draft.
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What position does Travis Hunter play?
Hunter is listed as a “cornerback” on his NFL Draft Combine profile, but there is more to it than meets the eye.
On the full list of NFL Combine participants, Hunter’s name appears under wide receivers and cornerbacks, a reflection of his standing as a two-way player throughout college. For what it’s worth, Hunter’s position was listed as an athlete on Colorado’s official athletic website.
Why is Travis Hunter listed as a cornerback for the NFL Combine?
That Hunter is listed as a cornerback for the NFL Combine likely means he will work out with other defensive backs during the process. The designation could also be a sign of things to come during Hunter’s NFL career.
He is also listed with wide receivers, meaning he could elect to also do drills with that position group.
While it is ultimately up to the team that selects him, Hunter being listed as a CB could mean that most of his NFL future will be spent in the defensive secondary. This does not rule out Hunter’s ability to also make plays as a wide receiver at the next level.
MORE: Why Travis Hunter is The Sporting News’ 2024 Player of the Year
What position do scouts think Travis Hunter will play in the NFL
There have been varied reports of what Hunter will do in the NFL.
An anonymous AFC executive said, “You don’t play a guy full-time at receiver and then part-time at cornerback. He’s a lot more valuable as a cornerback who plays eight-to-10 snaps a game at receiver.”
On the contrary, an NFC personnel director said, “He’s the best receiver in this class, and then there is a big dropoff. He’s comparable to last year’s big three of (Malik) Nabers, (Marvin) Harrison (Jr.), and (Rome) Odunze, in my opinion.”
The divide persisted at the NFL Combine, as Titans coach Brian Callahan told reporters Hunter “probably starts at cornerback” and grows into a receiving role, while Browns GM Andrew Berry called Hunter “a receiver primarily first.” The Titans and Browns hold the top two picks in the draft, respectively.
Colts beat writer Destin Adams reported “I’ve talked to multiple scouts this week in Indianapolis and all but one have said their team is listing Travis Hunter as a WR on their board,” suggesting the consensus at the combine is that Hunter projects to play on offense.
It’s important not to read too much into Hunter’s combine designation, but it could suggest where Hunter is leaning.
Notable two-way players in NFL history
Fittingly, Hunter’s college coach, Deion Sanders is one of the most apt comparisons as a two-way player.
While Sanders is regarded as one of the greatest CBs in NFL history, he became a big-time receiving threat for the Cowboys during the 1996 season. That season, Sanders was First Team All-Pro as a CB while also catching 36 passes for 475 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.
While Sanders was defense-oriented, Troy Brown also played both positions with a focus on WR. Brown became an emergency DB in his 12th NFL season, grabbing three interceptions and recovering two fumbles in 12 games.
- Deion Sanders, CB/WR
- Troy Brown, WR/CB
- Mike Vrabel, LB/TE
- Patrick Ricard, FB/DT
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How could position choice impact Travis Hunter’s draft stock?
Hunter is slated to go third overall to the New York Giants in The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer’s most recent NFL Mock Draft.
Position choice could impact how franchises prioritize Hunter among other prospects. A team in need of a CB would prioritize Hunter for his ability to be CB1 while viewing his receiving capabilities as a bonus.
A team in search of a WR could pass on Hunter in favor of a player they view would spend the majority of their time playing offense.
Hunter took on an unprecedented workload as a two-way player in college but that is not likely a sustainable model to follow at the professional level. For those reasons, Hunter will likely be prioritized as a CB and will almost certainly be selected in the top three.
