Travis Hunter is a never-ending hype man in the 2024 college football epiphany. Not only did coach Prime’s favorite boy bring the coveted Heisman trophy to Boulder, breaking a three-decade drought, but the Colorado Buffs superstar is also making a solid case to take his career to the professional mould. The 21-year-old is special in every way. He is a kind of throwback-type weapon for Deion Sanders. For a moment, he is a splendid receiver. The next moment, he turned into a lockdown cornerback who rarely leaves his task undone on the field. His stats are outstanding, no doubt, but his ability to make an impact on both sides of the ball made him the rare beast he is for the Buffs. Now, the debate is: can he also stretch that dual role in the NFL?

Hunter has the eloquent skill, insane speed, and a ‘never-give-up’ aura. However, doing too many things at a time can spoil its quality or lead to burnout. NFL and college football are not the same. So, it might sound like an elusive idea to continue doing both in the national league, but Cowboys legend Michael Irvin Jr. batted for it. ‘‘If you’re not letting me play both ways, don’t draft me. I fully intend to play both ways in the National Football League,” Irvin put out his cut-edge advice for Travis Hunter for his swirling NFL communications.

Hunter has a long-standing vision of playing in the NFL. While the marquee celebration in New York looked absolutely first-rate as it added another feather to Travis’ adorned cap, it was not his waking dream as a child. The Georgia native always wanted to be drafted as an overall No. 1 pick in the National Football League after his collegiate career wrap-up. He made it pretty clear that if he gets an option, he will stick to his ‘two-way’ talent, wherever, whatever.

The NFL veteran bashed those who labeled him as the CB over WR, noting, ”These guys think you know more about this kid, you never met, you just watched his film, you already made up your mind that he’s going to play on one side, and you gave him one side. I think you should build corner because ball control and being able to attack the ball from a cornerback position is much more valuable than a receiver position because I can’t find corners that can do it. Okay so, you can’t stop me from playing corner, but I can also play wide receiver. I am not letting them dictate my story. In three years from now, you’ll Shohei Ohtani my money to me.”

It’s a direct confrontation to what John Middlekauf and many others deem to be true. The NFL vet believes it will put Travis’ health on the line doing both at a time and it would be better if he solely focuses on playing CB.

However, it’s not just Middlekauff who thinks managing both positions simultaneously will be a tiring task for any athlete.

NFL HoFer draws a middle line for Travis Hunter’s ‘two-way’ dream

NFL Hall of Fame Champ Bailey faced a similar situation as Travis in his storied career. In his final season at UGA in 1998, Bailey won the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s best defensive player. At the same time, he caught 47 passes for 744 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver in the Bulldogs’ offense. But as he transitioned to the NFL, he started to play almost exclusively cornerback, and for a reason.

The former Washington CB believes Hunter has a better stat than him when he was his age. The Colorado boy’s unwavering passion for the game is unmatched, and he really excels in his craft, both on the offensive and defensive line. But in the NFL, it would be a tough thing.

Speaking from his first-hand experience, the NFL legend noted that apart from the extra pressure on the athlete, it would also put the coaches in a dilemma. They struggle to believe you unless and until it’s very convincing. So, it’s never just an experimental thing. If a player commits to breaking a sweat on both sides, everybody in the team starts to expect that from that point. So, it becomes a legitimate responsibility to live up to.

”So for Travis, it’s all about who his coach is in the NFL and how much they think is possible. No matter what you can do on the field, the head coach controls the schedule and how you practice. But I say all that, and it’s really not far-fetched that he’ll at least get a shot to try playing both ways,” Bailey concluded.

However, it is up to Travis and the team that drafts him. These conversations will gain more significance as we head towards the 2025 NFL Draft. For anyone who has watched him in college football, there is no doubt that Coach Prime’s No. 12 can do it all.