Colorado Buffaloes' Two-Way Player Travis Hunter (12) - David Zalubowski/AP Photo
The Colorado Buffaloes are one of the country’s most talked about NCAA Football teams.
Thanks to a rising team under head coach Deion Sanders, the roster consists of many NFL draft-caliber talent.
The one name that rises above all the others is two-way Wide Receiver/Corner Back Travis Hunter.
How He Plays Both Sides of the Ball
Today’s college football players are fun to watch every Saturday. They are faster and more athletic, which puts them in better positions to make big plays.
Some guys are offensive juggernauts who thrive on making big catches or runs in no-huddle offenses. Meanwhile, defensive monsters make key interceptions or key stops on third or fourth down.
But there is one current player who is admirable because he plays both offense and defense. Colorado Buffaloes’ Hunter is a rare kid with the speed to catch deep passes and create interceptions on defense.
The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is the first two-way player in college since Charles Woodson and former five-year NFL player Sanders in the 1990s. Like his coach, he has revolutionized the game.
Like Sanders, Hunter is an outspoken communicator who backs it up with outstanding ball skills on the field. He also has that MC Hammer lyric and attitude in his play in that he’s 2 Legit 2 Quit.
Therefore, Hunter is mentally capable of not giving up on a play and can move on from both a great play and a negative one.
The Shohei Ohtani of the NFL?
If Hunter wants a role model he can look up to, look no further than LA Dodgers Super Star Shohei Ohtani. The right-handed pitcher is currently the International face of the MLB while excelling as both a pitcher and a batter.
The Dodgers consider Ohtani the first two-way baseball player since Babe Ruth over 100 years ago.
After Ruth, the two-way player went extinct. That was until one Dodger player decided to bring its relevancy back to “America’s Pastime.”
Nevertheless, Hunter is bringing back the two-way player to football, and if he gets drafted, he very well could be the Ohtani of the NFL.
Which NFL Team might draft Hunter?
Hunter wants to be the number one overall pick in 2025. Therefore, the Titans want to address their quarterback need with Cam Ward of the University of Miami (FL).
He may have a slight chance of being drafted by the Browns at number two if they don’t want to take a quarterback. This makes the most sense. The quarterback class isn’t supposed to be talent-heavy.
Therefore, the Browns can work around that by adding a two-way premiere player in Hunter.
This allows him to play both ways and he can be another target opposite of Jerry Judy on offense while additionally being a number two corner to Denzel Ward.
The talented athlete could also go to the New York Giants. Yes, the Giants need a QB, too, but the class is weak.
The Giants could use their top pick to build a superior athlete around the quarterback and their secondary.
By taking Hunter here, it allows the Giants to use their second-round pick on Jalen Milroe or Quinn Ewers.
Cons or Risks in the NFL
While it’s cool that he could make history in the NFL as a two-way player, the reality is that he hasn’t played a down in the NFL yet. What he did in college amazed people, but can his body stay intact?
This is true when he gets hit by somebody bigger or gets burned for a touchdown by a faster receiver. He may end up only playing one position, then.
The wear and tear in the NFL is more significant, and there are more injuries in the league than in college. Nevertheless, the league will let Hunter play both ways to see if he can become the Ohtani of the NFL.
