Travis Hunter isn’t asking — he’s demanding.
The former Colorado Buffaloes star and 2025 Heisman Trophy winner is making it clear to NFL teams: if he can’t play both cornerback and wide receiver at the next level, he’s not playing at all. The two-way phenom, projected to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has issued an ultimatum to any team interested in selecting him.
“I’m never playing football again [if I can only play one position],” Hunter told CBS Sports. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”
Hunter’s message isn’t empty bravado — it’s backed by one of the most decorated college careers in recent memory. In 2024, he didn’t just turn heads — he rewrote expectations. Hunter took home both the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver) and the Bednarik Award (best defender), all while capturing the Heisman Trophy. He became a legitimate game-wrecker on both ends, and he wants that same impact in the NFL.
He’s told teams he eats, sleeps, and breathes football. To him, playing both positions is a blessing — not a burden.
But that mentality is creating real tension among NFL front offices. While some scouts believe he has higher long-term value as a lockdown corner, others are mesmerized by his footwork, route running, and ability to high-point the ball as a receiver. What’s unanimous is that nobody wants to be the team that limits him — or worse, loses him — by forcing a one-position decision.
Hunter stirred the pot further by registering as a defensive back at the NFL Combine, only for it to be clarified as a paperwork technicality. He hasn’t backed off his claim to both sides of the ball — and when asked how he should be introduced on draft night, he didn’t hesitate: “Wide receiver and defensive back. [Goodell] better say both.”
Travis Hunter’s draft night is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing storylines in recent memory. He’s not just betting on himself — he’s daring a franchise to believe in the future of two-way football.
