NFL.com analyst and former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah takes a "first look" at some of college football's top players for 2024. This is the third entry in a series of scouting reports that will run in July.
Colorado's 2023 season started with a bang but ended in a whimper. Individually, though, Travis Hunter captivated football fans from stem to stern.
The former No. 1 overall high school prospect initially burst onto the scene when he flipped his commitment from Florida State to Jackson State, a seismic recruiting story that showcased then-JSU head coach Deion Sanders' sway on college football. After starring for the HBCU program for a season -- increasing his two-way impact as a cornerback and wide receiver as the campaign transpired -- Hunter followed Sanders to Colorado. In the Buffaloes' season-opening upset of TCU last September, a game that sent shockwaves through the sports world, Hunter logged an amazing 152 snaps (per PFF), catching 11 balls for 119 yards while also intercepting a pass on defense. Nationally, a star was born. A brutal hit in the Colorado State game lacerated Hunter's liver, forcing him to miss three contests, but every time he took the field last season, his multi-faceted skill set became fodder for football fans far and wide. No wonder he became one of three cover athletes for the highly anticipated return of EA Sports' college football video game.
Heading into the 2024 season, Hunter is one of the biggest stars in college football -- and an absolutely fascinating prospect for NFL scouts to dig into. How does he project to the next level? Is wide receiver or cornerback his best position? After breaking down Hunter's game tape from last year, here is my initial scouting report.
Height, weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds (school measurements).
2023 statistics (9 games): 57 catches for 721 yards (12.6 average), 5 TDs; 30 tackles (2 for loss), 3 interceptions, 5 pass breakups.
Game tape watched: For Hunter's offensive evaluation, I viewed every receiving target in the 2023 season. For the defensive assessment, I took in the following three contests: vs. Colorado State (Sept. 16, 2023), vs. Stanford (Oct. 13, 2023), vs. Arizona (Nov. 11, 2023).
What I liked: Hunter is explosive, smooth and instinctive -- on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he has the versatility as a wide receiver to line up outside or in the slot. He utilizes creativity in his releases off the line of scrimmage and he can get up to top speed in a hurry. He is a fluid route runner, quickly getting into and out of breaks without wasting steps. The 21-year-old has an excellent feel for working in zones, creating easy throws for his quarterback. He rarely lets the ball get into his chest and can climb the ladder to make big plays down the field, but he's at his best after the catch. Hunter is very elusive in tight quarters and his stop/start quickness is exceptional. He has the speed to pull away from defenders and hit home runs.
Hunter isn't quite as polished defensively as a cornerback, but his movement skills and playmaking ability are still quite impressive. He's at his best in press coverage. He has quick feet and hands to stab and mirror opposing wideouts. He loves to play underneath, anticipate and undercut routes. The young man has plenty of recovery speed when he's caught out of position. He flashes the ability to sink and drive on the ball from off coverage, but he will get out of position at times versus play action.
Where he needs to improve: On offense, Hunter just needs the play strength to avoid getting knocked off routes and be more consistent on contact catches. He also had a few miscommunications with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, something that could be smoothed out as they continue to learn and grow together.
There is more work to be done on the defensive side of the ball. Hunter's tackling is too inconsistent, and he needs to develop better eye discipline to avoid getting out of position.
Biggest takeaway: I'm sure NFL teams will be split on where they envision Hunter playing at the next level. Personally, I prefer him on offense. He has every tool needed to develop into a No. 1 wideout. Quite simply, this guy's at his best on a football field when the ball is in his hands. However, I'm sure he would show improvement as a cover man if his offensive snaps were limited. The Stanford tape is instructive to my thinking here. Hunter struggled mightily on defense that Friday night. If that's all you assess from that contest, his grade takes a big hit. However, once you review the ENTIRE game, you notice he was targeted 20 times on offense and played 88 snaps on defense. He was exhausted, and it showed in his defensive performance.
He reminds me of: I know this is lofty praise, but his movement skills and run-after-catch ability remind me of Garrett Wilson when he was coming out of Ohio State. I loved Wilson in the 2022 NFL Draft, viewing him as the best receiver (and No. 4 overall prospect) in his class. In two years with the New York Jets, the former No. 10 overall pick has been outstanding, producing a pair of 1,000-yard seasons despite some severe challenges at the quarterback position. I believe Wilson is on the cusp of being a top-five NFL wideout, if he's not there already. I see similar traits and tools when Hunter is on the offensive side of the ball.
I can't wait to watch him play: vs. North Dakota State on Aug. 29. This Thursday night affair -- which will be nationally televised on ESPN -- is the first game on the schedule, and it will be a fun battle against a program that's very comfortable in this setting. North Dakota State will play a physical brand of football, and I'm excited to see how Hunter and his teammates respond. More than anything else, I'm curious to see how Hunter's play time is distributed by Deion Sanders. Does Coach Prime fully cut his two-way star loose, or does he try to pace Hunter to keep him healthy? As noted above, Hunter missed some time last year due to injury. The team wasn't the same when he wasn't on the field.
