As told by his head coach, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Deion Sanders, Travis Hunter is the "best player in college football." Following a dominant junior season for the star athlete, it's hard to argue with his coach's assessment. We'll take a look into what makes Hunter an elite NFL Draft prospect, his background, and his potential fit with the Tennessee Titans.
Position | College | Year | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CB/WR | Colorado | Junior | 6-1 | 185 lbs |
Background
Coming out of high school, Hunter was rated as the top prospect in the country by 247Sports after breaking the Georgia state record for receiving touchdowns. The two-way high school star committed to coach Sanders and Jackson State, where he continued to play both wide receiver and cornerback. Despite only playing in eight games his freshman season, Hunter was named a finalist for the Jerry Rice award, which is given to the top freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Following a strong freshman campaign, the former Georgia high school star transferred and followed his head coach and quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, to the University of Colorado. His sophomore season was even more impressive despite moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Hunter led the nation in snaps while playing full-time at wide receiver and cornerback; he was awarded by being named a consensus All American.
Hunter took another step in his development in his junior season, ending his college career with a Heisman Trophy winning performance. The junior was selected to the first All-American team at both the cornerback and all-purpose positions, while being chosen to the second All-American team at wide receiver. The Heisman winner finished top five in the country in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns while being top 15 in passes defended.
Strengths
Hunter has experience playing in the slot and at multiple outside wide receiver positions. He uses his elite athleticism combined with excellent releases to get off the line against man, zone, and press coverage. A true deep-play threat, Hunter can threaten vertically with his long speed before using his leaping ability and body control to high-point the ball. The two-way star has elite run after the catch ability with his acceleration, start-stop ability, and open field vision.
The All-American is more often projected as a cornerback at the NFL level in part due to his elite ability in zone coverage. Hunter is a dynamic athlete that combines elite short-area quickness and change of direction to cover multiple zones and bait quarterbacks in man coverage. He possesses solid long speed and leaping ability to cover downfield. High-level instincts mix with Hunter's ball skills to form a player that will continue to get hands on the football and create turnovers.
Weaknesses
Despite huge improvement throughout his three seasons at Jackson State and Colorado, Hunter is far from a finished product at wide receiver. The young wide receiver has a wiry frame that allows him to be thrown off of routes and disrupt his timing. The electrifying talent will need to refine his route tree as Colorado's scheme and play calling didn't ask for extensive variety.
At the cornerback position, Hunter's technique is still raw as he struggles with hip positioning. The NFL Draft prospect's thin frame leads to struggles playing press coverage, an inability to shed larger blockers in the run game, and issues absorbing contact mid-route. Injuries have also been a minor concern as a massive workload has caused the junior to miss games in each of his three collegiate seasons.
Fit with Titans
With wide receiver being a massive need for the Titans, the team may consider Hunter to be a weapon on that side of the ball. Furthermore, the University of Colorado product may want to play on the offensive side of the ball with the wide receiver salaries outpacing those of the cornerback position. The two-way star's versatility, run after catch ability, and history of being a vertical threat would provide new elements to a passing game lacking pieces outside of Calvin Ridley.
The rookie could come in and play in the slot immediately while eventually taking on a role as an X wide receiver (DeAndre Hopkins' old role) once he's able to add additional strength to beat press coverage. Hunter's reliable hands, explosive release, and ability with the ball in his hands would provide a great underneath option from the slot while seeing less press coverage than an outside receiver. As Hunter adds strength and fills out his frame, he could be a great fit for the X role given his downfield ability and quickness to beat tight coverage.
The Titans will need to add to the wide receiver position this offseason, where the Heisman Trophy winner would immediately slide in as a top two option. Ridley and Hunter would form an excellent duo for a potential new starting quarterback. The team is thin on paper for next season with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Tyler Boyd set to be free agents, Treylon Burks unable to stay healthy throughout his career, and minimal experience behind them with a group that includes Mason Kinsey, Colton Dowell, Bryce Oliver, and Jha'Quan Jackson.
Cornerback isn't at the top of the Titans' needs given a deep room that includes L'Jarius Sneed, Roger McCreary, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., and Chidobe Awuzie. As the 2024 season showed the team, depth is always needed and this group may need reinforcements sooner than later. Sneed was limited to five games this season with a quad injury, Awuzie dealt with his own injuries and could save the team nearly $4.5 million dollars if he's cut after June 1st, and McCreary enters the last year of his rookie contract in 2025.
If the Titans view Hunter as a blue-chip cornerback prospect, then the team shouldn't allow the current roster to dissuade their draft evaluation. The incoming rookie would slide into an outside cornerback position and form an elite group with Sneed on the opposite side and McCreary in the slot. The team could move on from Awuzie to save cap space and still have Brownlee to play situationally. Learning from multiple veterans would help the University of Colorado star adjust to the NFL and ease his way into a heavy workload if his technique or injury concerns linger into the regular season.
Hunter would provide a ball-hawk for a team that ranked 31st in the NFL in turnover differential.
The potential cornerback would need to put on weight to optimize his fit in defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson's scheme that likes to play physical press coverage in the secondary. The Titans played zone coverage at a rate ranking in the bottom half of the league, according to FTN, which would lessen some of Hunter's most elite traits.
Summary
Hunter is one of the best prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft and among a handful of potentially elite players at the next level. Whether the Titans view him as a wide receiver, cornerback, or want to have him play packages on both sides of the ball, the Heisman Trophy winner would provide a massive talent upgrade to a team lacking playmakers. The Titans should seriously consider Hunter if they stick and draft with the first overall pick and the team should sprint to the podium if he's there in a trade down scenario.