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Jacksonville Jaguars NFL draft target Travis Hunter wants to play 100% of snaps at WR, CB
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- Jacksonville Jaguars NFL draft target Travis Hunter wants to play 100% of snaps at WR, CB
INDIANAPOLIS — Travis Hunter
drew a big crowd
the biggest
crowd the NFL Combine
has seen thus far this year. The number of media members with phones and cameras up to record the potential top-five pick out of Colorado mirrored that of Caleb Williams
' Combine experience last year.
However, Hunter wasn't asked about being afraid to compete after saying he wouldn't participate in on-field drills inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
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No, Hunter's media availability centered around his dynamic ability to play both sides of the ball — at corner and receiver — something the generational college football talent and Heisman Trophy winner made sure to get his point across about: "Imma play both," he said when asked which position he'd play at the next level.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars own the fifth-overall pick in this year's draft, and they'll potentially be able to select the superstar talent depending on how the board falls.
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Hunter reportedly met with the Jaguars earlier this week but didn't want to get into impressions on any team.
"All teams I've met with I've had good impressions of," Hunter said Thursday at the Combine.
The Jaguars hope the impression was more than just good. He's listed as a receiver and a corner at the Combine and teams have asked him about playing either position he manned in college.
No one has done what he has in college in the NFL. Still, he's adamant he can.
"I'm different," he said.
Travis Hunter feels 'stamped,' ready to prove he can play both sides of the ball
NFL Combine WR Travis Hunter models game after Browns Jerry Jeudy. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
After transferring from Jackson State University to follow alongside head coach Deion Sanders to Colorado, Hunter continued what he'd done with the Tigers.
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He starred as a wideout and a corner, catching 153 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns. He led the nation in catches and touchdowns in 2024 with 96 and 15, respectively.
On defense, Hunter was equally, or more, impressive, shutting down top-tier talent while accounting for 66 total tackles (47 solos), three tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 16 pass breakups in 22 games.
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He played a near-equal number of snaps on either side of the ball with 669 on defense and 687 on offense, a total of 1,356 snaps. It was 382 more snaps than the next-most active player in the FBS.
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In the NFL, Hunter would certainly play more snaps. The NFL has 17 games compared to college football's typical 12 contests. He'd also likely have to deal with the conditioning aspect of the sport when he gets to the next level.
That's something he says he's prepared for, however.
Feb 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Colorado defensive back Travis Hunter (DB15) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tanner Pearson-Imagn Images
"I didn't have load management at Colorado. [Colorado head coach Deion Sanders] pretty much let me do what I felt was right for my body. I'm the only person who knows my body. I did a lot of treatment and training and always felt ready for where I was needed to be," said Hunter.
"I feel like nobody has done it. I know I can do it. I did it at the college level where you really get breaks. There are a lot more breaks in the NFL," he added.
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In 2024, Hunter earned multiple accolades for his performance, including:
-
Heisman Trophy
-
Walter Camp Award
-
AP College Football Player of the YEar
-
SN College Football Player of the YEar
-
Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player)
-
Fred Biletnikoff Award (best receiver)
-
Lott Trophy (defense)
-
Paul Hornung Award
-
Unanimous All-American
-
Consensus All-American
-
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
-
First-team All-Big 12
He feels like all the accolades add up to him deserving of being "stamped" entering the NFL.
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"I definitely feel like stamped myself. I have some of the top awards and the biggest award in college football, so I feel like I stamped myself," said Hunter.
Ultimately, he wants to go first overall. His case is solid, too.
"That was one of my dreams, to go No. 1 and be the best I can be," he said.
And again, he's adamant about playing both sides.
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"I'm going to play both. That's not my job to figure it out. I'd like to play both sides of the ball. If they give me the opportunity to play both sides, I'm playing both sides," he said.
Suppose we will see.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Travis Hunter wants to play CB, WR: Jacksonville Jaguars could use him
