Effectively into my third decade of professionally evaluating school prospects for professional soccer, I can truthfully say that I’ve by no means seen a participant fairly like Colorado’s do-everything dynamo and Heisman Trophy contender, Travis Hunter.
These mistakenly considering this text is simply one other instance of media bandwagon leaping, I’d ask you to keep in mind this text from final September after I first evaluated Hunter — and instantly argued for his Heisman candidacy and future as an NFL first spherical choice.
In case you missed his newest dominant efficiency in Saturday’s 48-21 victory over UCF, here’s a temporary recap: Hunter caught 9 passes for 89 yards and a landing whereas recording a few tackles, a cross breakup and one other jaw-dropping interception whereas alternating between extensive receiver and cornerback. He was on the sphere for a staggering 128 of the sport’s 143 whole snaps from scrimmage.
Even previous to the sport, UCF head coach Gus Malzahn spoke about Hunter’s distinctive versatility and dominance.
“He is simply an elite participant, and it is actually, actually spectacular to see what he is doing enjoying that many snaps,” Malzahn mentioned. “Since I have been in school soccer, I’ve not seen it.
“Once you watch him on movie, he is the very best participant on the movie in all 4 video games, and it is not even shut. So, yeah, he is an elite man.”
[Related:Travis Hunter is the best player in college football, and it’s not close]
Taking part in on either side of the ball is, in fact, nothing new for Hunter, who leads the nation with 652 snaps performed to date this season, based on the analytics web site Professional Soccer Focus. He did the identical final 12 months, together with in Colorado’s season-opening surprising win over TCU.
It isn’t simply that Hunter performs two positions for the 4-1 Buffaloes, nevertheless, it is that he performs each positions so effectively.
A outstanding case of amountand high quality
If Hunter have been to give attention to simply one of many positions he performs, he’s gifted sufficient to warrant a top-10 draft choice. If groups really feel that he’s in a position to play each positions within the NFL as dominantly as he has for Colorado, he simply is perhaps the No. 1 general choice — which is precisely the place I positioned him in my early mock draft.
It appears ludicrous to counsel that Hunter can proceed to play each positions within the NFL. Absolutely, he can’t play either side of the ball as ceaselessly in opposition to professional athletes as he has at Colorado. Opposing groups would deliberately exhaust him, forcing him to cowl deep balls or working proper at him to restrict the harm he may be capable to do when his membership had the ball.
However there definitely could possibly be distinctive packages or performs designed for him to play either side of the ball. That is as a result of, from each a bodily and instinctual perspective, Hunter is a singular prospect.
The ball abilities and athleticism to play each methods
Don’t take my phrase for it. And don’t even depend on head coach Deion Sanders, who is aware of a factor or two about each two-way soccer gamers, and promotion. Hearken to his offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmer.
Shurmer — who served as head coach for the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles (albeit as an interim) — is understandably singing Hunter’s praises, each publicly and privately with the NFL scouts who’re touring by way of Boulder.
“I’ve mentioned this in all probability to all 32 NFL groups, however he has some superpowers,” Shurmur instructed reporters Tuesday after the Buffaloes concluded apply. “And his most evident one is his ball abilities. So, once you’re enjoying nook, it is very, essential that you simply have an effect on the ball. He will get interceptions as a defensive participant.”
Ball abilities are usually related to extensive receivers, and given the flexibility to make troublesome grabs look simple, Hunter definitely can play that position.Â
However his personal offensive coordinator was reluctant to pigeon-hole Hunter to only one place.Â
When requested the place Hunter may play within the NFL, Shurmur mentioned: “Each (sides of the ball). I feel any group goes to be fortunate to have Travis, after which they only need to resolve the place they need to play him. He is displaying each week why he could possibly be an influence participant on either side of the ball. These are the selections that the groups, groups as they put together for the draft, or the group that truly chooses him, what they’ll do.
“However he is exhibiting everyone that he may play on offense or protection.”
Hunter is listed by Colorado at 6-foot-1 and 185 kilos, possessing a super mixture of top, arm size, agility and pace. Most gamers of his top wrestle with altering course fluidly, however Hunter explodes out of his cuts and accelerates in a flash. His capacity to take action permits him to create separation as a route runner and stay within the hip pocket of opposing extensive receivers once they try and do the identical.
Travis Hunter explodes out of his cuts and accelerates in a flash, which permits him to create separation as a route runner — and stay within the hip pocket of opposing WRs once they try and do the identical. (Photograph by Ricky Bowden/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)
Hunter additionally possesses distinctive arms and physique management to regulate to the soccer. His capacity to contort his physique to make troublesome receptions look simple is paying homage to final 12 months’s high drafted wideout, Marvin Harrison Jr.
And Shurmur acknowledged Hunter’s reliability as an open-field tackler, as effectively.
“He is aware of the place he is speculated to be, he makes tackles when it is time to sort out. So, anytime you may have an effect on the ball, I feel that is actually good.”
A kind of occasions to make a sort out popped up in Colorado’s victory over convention rival Baylor two weeks in the past — when Hunter pressured the game-sealing fumble on the goal-line to safe an extra time win.
The instincts and consciousness to play each methods
Nonetheless, to solely acknowledge Hunter’s bodily items is a disservice to his outstanding consciousness. Hunter is an exceptionally instinctive participant. He reveals an actual really feel for down-and-distance and what his opponent is attempting to do. The interception final week in opposition to UCF is simply the newest instance of Hunter’s uncommon anticipation.
I imply, simply watch how he diagnoses this brief throw and explodes to steal the interception.Â
Colorado’s Travis Hunter hauls in an interception, strikes Heisman pose
One can’t blame Hunter for placing the Heisman pose afterward.
All of it provides as much as … high grades at each CBand WR
It’s the outstanding mixture of consciousness and athleticism that earn him a barely larger grade on my board at cornerback.
Nonetheless, given the audacious salaries that extensive receivers are incomes in in the present day’s NFL, some may really feel that he’d be much more beneficial on offense.
No matter the place he strains up, Hunter is an distinctive, even unprecedented, NFL prospect.
Travis Hunter is making a case not just for the Heisman Trophy, but additionally to be the No. 1 general decide within the 2025 NFL Draft. (Photograph by Don Juan Moore/Getty Photos)
Which is why Colorado followers — and actually, school soccer followers as a complete — had higher benefit from the “Heisman Hunter” whereas they will.
Quickly sufficient, scouts would be the ones stampeding into Boulder to take Hunter and his outstanding skills to the NFL.
Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports activities. He has been overlaying the NFL Draft for greater than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports activities Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA In the present day, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, amongst others. He additionally works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Soccer League. Comply with him on Twitter @RobRang.
Get extra from School Soccer Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
