No player in college football had done what Travis Hunter did at Colorado in 2023 and 2024. Coming from Jackson State with Deion and Shadeur Sanders in 2023, he helped transform the program at Colorado. Hunter capped off his college career with a Heisman and helped his team go bowling twice, which they did for the first time since 2016. Hunter shaped Colorado football, and he can do the same for a team picking early in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Travis Hunter Scouting Report Overview
Measurables:
6’0″
188 pounds
Player Background:
Hunter arrived at Jackson State in 2022 and immediately helped bring awareness to HBCUs by making history as the first five-star high school prospect to play for one. He and the father-son combination of Deion and Shedeur Sanders helped the Tigers win the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2022, Hunter’s freshman year. It was after the 2022 season that Deion Sanders took the Colorado job, and both Shedeur and Hunter followed him.
Hunter made an immediate impact at Colorado, earning All-America honors as the top All-purpose player in the country as a sophomore. The next year, Hunter shined, helping Colorado win eight games and within a game of playing for the Big 12. As a Junior, Hunter took home the Heisman for his contributions as a receiver and cornerback for Colorado. Hunter also was awarded both the Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2024, honoring his impact as a defensive player. He did it all while playing an exceptional amount of snaps at two positions.
Hunter’s skills were maximized by good coaching at Colorado, offering promise at the next level. Especially in the right scheme, he could become an all-time great in the NFL.
Strengths:
Exceptional awareness and ball tracking. Great body control when going up for contested catches. Elite athleticism and a high football IQ. Patiently waits to make his break on the ball as a corner. As a receiver, Hunter is able to contort his body to make quick adjustments on the ball. His awareness and fluidity allow him to make sharp cuts as a receiver and change direction on defenders.
On defense, Hunter can manipulate quarterbacks in zone coverage by hanging back and waiting for his chance to play the ball. His ability to throttle his speed helps him stick with receivers through their routes and through the catch point. He excels in man coverage and can blanket receivers. Hunter is also a willing and aggressive tackler on defense. He plays with great length and creates a wide catch-radius with ease.
Hunter’s endurance is rare and, after playing an unprecedented amount of snaps at the college level, he plans to do the same in the NFL. Teams will appreciate how disciplined he is outside of football and how he approaches the game. It will be hard to keep him off the field, and he has the rare ability to contribute big plays on both sides of the ball.
Weaknesses:
Hunter played against subpar receiver talent throughout most of his career. Had an up-and-down game against Tetairoa McMillan, one of the best receivers he had to face in 2024. In 2023, his matchup against Colorado State’s Tory Horton also had mixed results. Both McMillan and Horton have the potential to be selected in the first few rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The speed of the NFL is different, leaving some questions as to how Hunter’s endurance at the next level will hold up by trying to replicate his success from college. While Hunter is good at earning yards after the catch, he does not have elite speed. His game is more finesse and instinct-based.
Team Fits:
Prospect Grade:
Elite – Instant Starter
Player Comp:
Champ Bailey
Main Photo: Cris Tiller-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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