Travis Hunter is still not sure which position NFL teams want him to focus on

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 concentrate on when his profession begins — receiver or cornerback.

Hunter nonetheless insists he can excel at each.

“They wish to see how a lot I can deal with, and it is as much as me at this level,” he mentioned 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 trendy soccer. He not solely gained probably the most prestigious award in college football, he additionally took residence the Chuck Bednarik Award as faculty soccer’s high defensive participant and was named The Related Press participant of the 12 months.

Whereas a couple of gamers, together with his faculty coach Deion Sanders, have dabbled with enjoying each methods, no one 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 mostly thought-about the very best receiver and greatest cornerback on this 12 months’s draft board, and that is gotten individuals 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.

“Nicely, I would say this, when it comes to Travis Hunter, cornerback or receiver? The reply is sure,” Cleveland Browns common supervisor Andrew Berry mentioned in February on the league’s annual scouting mix. “He can play each, and I believe that is what makes him particular. We’d see him as a receiver primarily first, however I believe 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 total choose if Tennessee makes quarterback Cam Ward the No. 1 choice, as is extensively anticipated.

Whereas Hunter has loads of sport tape to showcase his expertise on the sphere, he skipped the mix exercises and mentioned 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 common supervisor Mike Borgonzi mentioned. “We had been watching him, and I do not know if there’s anyone that is truly executed what he is executed in modern-day soccer, enjoying each offense and protection throughout the course of a season. He is positively, 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, the very best gamers usually get nitpicked aside and people issues usually end in sliding in mock drafts.

How lengthy can Travis Hunter play either side of the ball in NFL?

How long can Travis Hunter play both sides of the ball in NFL?

Hunter has not heard many complaints, and he has persistently remained within the high 5 picks and, in lots of instances, the highest three.

“To be trustworthy, I believe I simply have to see if my physique will permit me to take all of this and proceed to take all this,” mentioned 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 will sustain with my physique and with what I would like for my physique.”

The most important problem to enjoying two positions: Studying two completely different playbooks. However Hunter has executed it earlier than and is keen to place in no matter hours are wanted to verify he can do it once more.

“I do not really feel distinctive, I really feel similar to a standard particular person,” he mentioned. “I am only a regular person who received the flexibility to do some particular issues.”

Reporting by The Related Press.

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