He hasn’t even made it to the NFL yet, and Travis Hunter is already changing the game. The Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/receiver is destined to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft; nevertheless, his unusual skill set is forcing scouts to develop a whole new way of evaluating players.
Hunter decided to skip his final year of NCAA eligibility and declared for the 2025 draft in late 2024. Despite only playing three years of college football, Hunter racked up 2,061 yards, 167 receptions, and 23 touchdowns as a receiver. As a cornerback, he had 80 tackles, nine interceptions, and one touchdown.
It is this ability to play on both sides of the ball that’s giving NFL scouts, personnel executives, and coaches some headaches. However, the New England Patriots found an unusual way to solve the problem.
Two reports for Travis Hunter
As one of the top prospects in the 2025 Draft, Hunter is one of the most scrutinized players. However, almost no one was prepared to report on Hunter except for Matt Groh, New England’s Director of Player Personnel.
Speaking to the Patriots’ website, team executive vice president Eliot Wolf explained, “Matt Groh actually wrote two separate scouting reports on him when he went to Colorado this year. He has one wide receiver report and one corner report.”
Wolf explained that Groh was the only one who took this approach with Hunter. “Everyone else tried to jam everything into the space that we have. But it’s tough when you’re talking about a player who does so many different things to fit all in there,” Wolf noted.
The Patriots and Travis Hunter
Most experts are saying the former Colorado star will be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft. New England has the fourth overall pick, and most mock drafts agree that if none of the top three picks him, the Pats won’t let him fall any lower.
Travis Hunter seems destined to change the NFL in more than one way. His unusual talent is already sparking discussions about how the lucky team that lands his services will use him, and it’s even creating a new way to evaluate players. What else will he accomplish in his professional career? We can’t wait to find out.
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