Some NFL groups are sending Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter to the offensive conferences first. Others have him meet the defensive coaches first.
Precisely two weeks earlier than the league’s annual draft is held in Inexperienced Bay, Hunter informed The Related Press he is undecided which place groups need him to deal with when his profession begins — receiver or cornerback.
Hunter nonetheless insists he can excel at each.
“They wish to see how a lot I can deal with, and it is as much as me at this level,” he stated Thursday. “It is simply me being me.”
What everybody needs to know, although, is the place he’ll play — and which group will give him these choices — subsequent season.
Hunter is exclusive in trendy soccer. He not solely received essentially the most prestigious award in college football, he additionally took house the Chuck Bednarik Award as school soccer’s high defensive participant and was named The Related Press participant of the 12 months.
Whereas just a few gamers, together with his school coach Deion Sanders, have dabbled with taking part in each methods, no one did it with extra success than Hunter. The previous Colorado star caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns whereas on the identical time making 35 tackles, breaking apart 11 passes and choosing off 4.
Hunter is mostly thought-about the most effective receiver and finest cornerback on this 12 months’s draft board, and that is gotten individuals debating whether or not he’d be higher at one place or the opposite or whether or not his physique might deal with doing each on a full-time foundation.
“Effectively, I would say this, by way of Travis Hunter, cornerback or receiver? The reply is sure,” Cleveland Browns normal supervisor Andrew Berry stated in February on the league’s annual scouting mix. “He can play each, and I believe that is what makes him particular. We might see him as a receiver primarily first, however I believe a part of, once more, what makes him a little bit of a unicorn is the truth that he can do each at a excessive degree.”
Cleveland might take Hunter with the second total choose if Tennessee makes quarterback Cam Ward the No. 1 choice, as is broadly anticipated.
Whereas Hunter has loads of sport tape to showcase his abilities on the sector, he skipped the mix exercises and stated Thursday he has not been doing particular person exercises at group services. He did, nevertheless, take part final week in drills at Colorado’s Professional Day.
He didn’t communicate with reporters following the exercise. But groups appear to have seen sufficient already.
“He is a particular participant,” Titans normal supervisor Mike Borgonzi stated. “We have been watching him, and I do not know if there’s anyone that is really completed what he is completed in modern-day soccer, taking part in each offense and protection throughout the course of a season. He is undoubtedly, he is a particular participant.”
Maybe essentially the most telling a part of Hunter’s journey is that at this stage of the draft course of, the most effective gamers sometimes get nitpicked aside and people issues sometimes end in sliding in mock drafts.
Hunter has not heard many complaints, and he has persistently remained within the high 5 choices and, in lots of instances, the highest three.
“To be sincere, I believe I simply must see if my physique will permit me to take all of this and proceed to take all this,” stated Hunter, who spoke to AP after agreeing to an endorsement take care of Snickers that’s packaging its sweet bars and ice cream collectively. “However I do lots of remedy, so I will sustain with my physique and with what I would like for my physique.”
The largest problem to taking part in two positions: Studying two totally different playbooks. However Hunter has completed it earlier than and is prepared to place in no matter hours are wanted to ensure he can do it once more.
“I do not really feel distinctive, I really feel similar to a traditional particular person,” he stated. “I am only a regular individual that obtained the flexibility to do some particular issues.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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