Top 20 NFL Draft Prospects: Travis Hunter

Travis Hunter is one of the most eye-catching prospects in this year’s draft class. An absolute freak of nature, he excels as a wide receiver and cornerback. His burst, fluid hips, and elite instincts make him one of the best among his pairs. Then his ball skills? Otherworldly stuff. Hunter shows serious promise, and NFL teams will be looking to pick him up very early in the draft.

In this article, we’ll highlight Hunter’s collegiate exploits, scouting summary, and NFL Combine results—basically why this guy is one of the most electrifying prospects we’ve seen in years.

Background

Though born in West Palm Beach, Florida, the 6-foot 188-pound talent spent most of his early teenage years in Georgia. He attended Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, where he played cornerback and wide receiver for the Eagles football team. Right from those early days, Hunter showed insane athleticism, as he could run six 200-meter sprints in a short time.

Hunter’s 48 career receiving touchdowns set the Georgia state record. He earned the MaxPreps Georgia Player of the Year Award as a junior. In his senior year, he led Collins Hill to its first-ever state title. He also participated in the Polynesian Bowl where he earned MVP honors.

*Photo Credit: AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File*

Collegiate Accolades

Hunter was the number one recruit nationally in the 2022 class. Choosing the Jackson State Tigers over the Florida State Seminoles, he became the first five-star recruit to sign with an FCS program over the last 20 years. He led the Tigers with 10 pass breakups and tied for the team lead with two interceptions.

Transferring to the University of Colorado, he was named a 2023 Consensus All-American and Second-team All-PAC 12. He also received the Paul Hornung Award. To crown off an incredible collegiate football career, Hunter won the Heisman Trophy. He also won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the best wide receiver, becoming the first player in college football history to win both awards.

Scouting Report Summary

Hunter’s exciting combination of athleticism and ball skills allows him to shine on both sides of the ball. His football instinct and ability to make big plays have placed him on a very high pedestal. On offense, he displays exceptional route-running, blending sharp cuts with bursting acceleration to separate from defenders. He also possesses a natural feel for creating space, using his body control to shield opposing coverage players.

On defense, Hunter’s anticipation on both man and zone coverage is top-notch. He does it with a burst and playmaking range that makes the quarterback second-guess their decisions. His leaping ability allows him to make difficult interceptions while cutting a high volume of passes. Despite his good qualities, Hunter has some question marks around him, one of which is his frame size, which isn’t ideal for either wide receiver or cornerback. Teams may also have a hard time deciding where to use him. But wherever he ends up, he shows enough potential to be a future star.

Strengths

Effortless burst and fluidity: Hunter accelerates quickly and can smoothly change direction. This allows him to react early and stay with receivers right from the start.

Excellent ball skills: His ball skills enable him to take control at the catch point, using outstanding timing and body control to high-point throws.

Great processing speed and football IQ: Hunter thinks quickly and processes the game at a high level, allowing him to bait quarterbacks into poor decisions while maintaining the leverage to recover and make a play.

Weaknesses

Smaller frame size: Hunter needs to add functional mass as most NFL teams tend to favor players with bigger frames—whether at wide receiver or cornerback.

Inconsistent eye discipline in zone coverage: Though Hunter excels at zone coverage, he occasionally loses focus while hunting for big plays, leaving his assignment vulnerable.