Travis Hunter has been a reputation to look at since he flipped from Florida State to Deion Sanders’ upstart Jackson State program throughout his highschool recruitment.
It grew to become nearly instantly evident the big-play vast receiver and shutdown cornerback had the talents to warrant the eye, and his expertise carried him to Colorado — and all the way in which to the Heisman Trophy podium in December.
Now comes the query: What’s subsequent?
There’s no debate about his capability. And whereas normal managers are cut up on which place fits him greatest, they’ll a minimum of agree on his unimaginable expertise and potential. Looming over the April 24 draft are questions on whether or not Hunter can get time on either side of the ball.
Listed here are the questions groups should reply earlier than choosing Hunter within the NFL Draft.
May Travis Hunter Be an Instantaneous Eraser at Cornerback?
Cornerback was at all times Hunter’s main place. He has extra reps, extra movie and extra proof of his potential at nook. Title a staff within the NFL the place he wouldn’t be CB1 — there are just a few — and you’ll see the framework of the conundrum for GMs start to develop.
He profiles as a superb man-to-man cornerback who would thrive in a scheme that emphasizes press protection. He’s bodily and instinctual, rapidly hitting his breaks and protecting tempo with wideouts over the center and deep threats who push vertically. His leverage and talent to push for the ball are aggressive and helped him generate sturdy deflection and interception numbers.
The place does he wrestle? Primarily in opposition to taller targets.
His strides are a bit brief and, even along with his bravado and physicality, he has some struggles with physique management, getting boxed out on the catch level. His fast steps don’t at all times translate to top-end velocity, and he’s probably simply a mean athlete by NFL requirements. He holds his personal, however enhancements could possibly be made with higher hip flexibility and velocity coaching.
Can Travis Hunter Make It Work as a Full-Time NFL Wideout?
Hunter put in loads of time at vast receiver for Colorado, constructing a powerful partnership with quarterback Shedeur Sanders. His play is marked by the identical cornerback traits that make him a particular prospect.
Hunter hardly ever loses monitor of the ball, making him a dependable possession receiver and reliable goal. He has nice consciousness, is aware of the place and when on the sector to speed up to achieve area after the catch, and he’s fairly elusive downfield. There’s intelligence to his play — with soccer instincts evident from an innate understanding of how defensive backs play in opposition to wideouts. He is aware of the methods of the commerce and methods to flip them to his benefit.
That stated, his two-way play could have restricted his time to develop a refined route tree — some sloppiness exhibits in areas he probably gained’t be capable of get away with within the NFL. Even so, there’s undoubtedly a case that his upside is increased at vast receiver than at cornerback.
Will He Play Each Sides?
It’s greater than probably Hunter sees average two-way work. That’s very true if the staff that drafts him sees him primarily as a cornerback.
Extra situational alternatives come up on offense the place Hunter wouldn’t be wanted on the sector. When you’ve got two stable wideouts, deploying Hunter on choose packages — say, 20 snaps per recreation — might create main mismatches. He’s a must-cover choice within the short-to-intermediate space.
Nonetheless, he’s not the kind of cornerback you need in a restricted function. He’s too gifted to take off the sector, and decreasing his reps could be a disservice to any protection — basically punting the potential for a game-changing play. It’s very potential he sticks full time at one place or the opposite, however followers and even teammates are prone to clamor for a bit half at whichever place Hunter isn’t taking part in primarily.
