“Afraid It Hurts Their Draft”: Travis Hunter’s Past Hard-Fought Comeback Poses Threat as Injury Disclosure May Brings New Hurdles

Last season, the Colorado Buffaloes suffered the collective pain of a 4-8 record and saw some players battle with injuries. Two-way star Travis Hunter suffered a lacerated liver injury at the hands of Rams DB Henry Blackburn. This injury in Week 3 against CSU sidelined him for the next three games.

The absence of the versatile Travis Hunter due to injury was a significant blow to the team, akin to losing two players at once. This was evident as the team’s winning streak of 3-0 into 2023 was abruptly halted with their first loss in Week 4 against Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks. The question now arises: could Hunter’s injury and the subsequent team’s performance affect his future in the NFL?

Will Travis Hunter’s past injury affect his draft stocks?

A recent YouTube video by Ryan Koenigsberg and Jake Schwanitz on DNVR Sports raises an important question about Travis Hunter’s future. Could his past injuries, which are now in the public domain, potentially hinder his prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft? As Koenigsberg points out, “These players don’t want their specific injuries to be made public because they’re afraid it hurts their draft.“

Travis Hunter’s injury did not deter him from delivering an impressive performance last season. Despite missing three games, he made a strong comeback, contributing 57 receptions, 721 yards, and five TDs on offense. On defense, he recorded 30 total tackles and three interceptions. This raises the question of whether his past injury might overshadow his undeniable talent and affect his draft stocks.

Travis Hunter’s prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft

It’s early, but the 2025 NFL mock draft has already begun, and Doug Farrar’s latest 2025 mock draft suggests that the Los Angeles Rams signed Hunter at No. 15 overall in Round 1. Many analysts consider the Buffs’ star one of the top 4 picks in 2025, given his athleticism and ability to play on both sides of the ball. This comes after CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson’s first mock draft in early May, where Hunter goes to the Tennessee Titans at No. 2. He said of Hunter, “Hunter is a special talent who looks like an NFL star on both sides of the ball.”

Despite his injury, Hunter proved himself last season by being named a Consensus All-American and winning the Paul Hornung Award. He even got the honor to grace the cover of the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game. It’s doubtful that any team would want to pass up on a talent like this if they’re in a position to draft him.