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 advised The Related Press he is unsure which place groups need him to give attention to when his profession begins — receiver or cornerback.
Hunter nonetheless insists he can excel at each.
“They need 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 desires to know, although, is the place he’ll play — and which staff will give him these choices — subsequent season.
Hunter is exclusive in fashionable soccer. He not solely gained probably the most prestigious award in college football, he additionally took house the Chuck Bednarik Award as school soccer’s prime defensive participant and was named The Related Press participant of the 12 months.
Whereas a number of gamers, together with his school coach Deion Sanders, have dabbled with enjoying each methods, no person 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 selecting off 4.
Hunter is usually thought of one of the best receiver and finest cornerback on this 12 months’s draft board, and that is gotten folks debating whether or not he’d be higher at one place or the opposite or whether or not his physique may deal with doing each on a full-time foundation.
“Properly, I would say this, by way of Travis Hunter, cornerback or receiver? The reply is sure,” Cleveland Browns basic supervisor Andrew Berry stated in February on the league’s annual scouting mix. “He can play each, and I feel that is what makes him particular. We’d see him as a receiver primarily first, however I feel 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 stage.”
Cleveland may take Hunter with the second general decide if Tennessee makes quarterback Cam Ward the No. 1 choice, as is extensively anticipated.
Whereas Hunter has loads of recreation tape to showcase his expertise on the sector, he skipped the mix exercises and stated Thursday he has not been doing particular person exercises at staff services. He did, nonetheless, 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 basic supervisor Mike Borgonzi stated. “We have been watching him, and I do not know if there’s anyone that is truly performed what he is performed in modern-day soccer, enjoying each offense and protection through the course of a season. He is undoubtedly, he is a particular participant.”
Maybe probably the most telling a part of Hunter’s journey is that at this stage of the draft course of, one of the best gamers sometimes get nitpicked aside and people considerations sometimes lead to sliding in mock drafts.
Hunter has not heard many complaints, and he has constantly remained within the prime 5 picks and, in lots of circumstances, the highest three.
“To be sincere, I feel I simply have to 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 cope with Snickers that’s packaging its sweet bars and ice cream collectively. “However I do a whole lot of therapy, so I can sustain with my physique and with what I want for my physique.”
The most important problem to enjoying two positions: Studying two totally different playbooks. However Hunter has performed it earlier than and is keen 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 standard individual,” he stated. “I am only a regular individual that acquired the power to do some particular issues.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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