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Travis Hunter is off the board at the 2025 NFL Draft.
With the No. 2 overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars took the Colorado football two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner, a moment that cashed in a childhood dream for the Suwanee, Georgia native of playing in the NFL.
The Jaguars traded up to the No. 2 pick with the Cleveland Browns to select Hunter, making him a building block for their franchise alongside quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Taken with a top-two pick of the NFL draft, Hunter is tied with fullback Bo Matthews as the highest-drafted Colorado player in program history, after Matthews went No. 2 overall to the then-San Diego Chargers in 1974.
REQURIED READING: Who is Travis Hunter's dad? Two-way star's father at NFL draft after court permission
Hunter entered Thursday's opening round of the NFL Draft as the No. 1 overall prospect on USA TODAY's NFL Draft big board.
As noted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, Hunter will receive a four-year rookie deal with a fifth-year option as a first-round pick. The No. 2 overall pick holds a slot value of $41.12 million to $46.65 million, based on estimations from Spotrac and Over The Cap, respectively.
Here's more on Hunter's selection by the Jaguars:
USA TODAY's Ayrton Ostlygave a draft score of B+ for the Jaguars drafting Hunter:
"Jacksonville makes the first big splash of the night by moving up from No. 5 overall to No. 2 and select the consensus top player of the class. Hunter is a two-way star with All-Pro potential at cornerback and can be a solid No. 2 wideout on offense for the Jaguars. They gave up a steep price to move up three spots, though, and that's why the Jaguars do not get an A.
"The team announced Hunter as both a defensive back and wide receiver, a potential statement of intent for his future in Jacksonville."
Trading up for a once-in-a-generational talent like Hunter, the Jaguars filled an immediate need at cornerback but also at wide receiver, as he was listed first as a receiver and then as a cornerback on the card.
Here's more from USA TODAY's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz's evaluation of Hunter going to Jacksonville:
"Well, how's that for a shake-up? After no trades involving a first-round pick materialized in the months leading up to the draft, Day 1 got a major infusion of drama in the form of the Jaguars moving from No. 5 to No. 2 for Hunter. How Jacksonville plans to use the electric Heisman Trophy winner will be fascinating, as the two-way threat could either be the answer at boundary cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell or team with Brian Thomas Jr. to form one of the league's most dynamic receiving duos. Hunter, of course, will want to pull double duty at both spots. The cost is at least approaching prohibitive for a non-quarterback, with Jacksonville giving up both a second-round selection this year and first-rounder next year. But in landing a player whom many – including us – ranked as the top overall player in this class, new general manager James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen have taken a major step toward fulfilling their goal of getting more explosive. Now, with their pick haul depleted, the pressure is on Gladstone to unearth the mid-to-late-round gems who helped keep the Los Angeles Rams – with whom the 34-year-old spent nearly the last decade – in top form."
Hunter split his three-year collegiate career at Jackson State and Colorado.
As the No. 1 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class, Hunter famously chose to play for Deion Sanders at Jackson State over the likes of Florida State, Alabama, Auburn and Clemson. He followed Coach Prime to Colorado following the 2022 season. In his two seasons at Colorado, Hunter quickly became one of the most elusive and explosive two-way players in recent college football history.
In his two seasons in Boulder, Hunter played in an impressive 2,625 combined snaps on both ends of the ball, as noted by his profile page on Colorado's website. This past season, Hunter led all FBS players with 1,483 snaps played: 714 on offense, 748 on defense and 21 on special teams.
He took college football by storm in 2024 by putting together one of the more impressive single-season performances by a player in recent years. In 13 games last season for the Buffaloes, Hunter recorded 96 receptions for 1,258 receiving yards and a program single-season record 15 receiving touchdowns. Meanwhile on defense, Hunter racked up 36 total tackles, four interceptions for 65 yards, 11 broken-up passes and one forced fumble. He also had nine third down stops and one fourth down stop on defense this season.
In December, Hunter beat out Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the Heisman Trophy race. By winning college football's most prestigious individual award, he became the first Colorado player to do so since Rashaan Salaam in 1994 and the first two-way player since Charles Wooden to reach the feat.
Here's a compilation of Hunter's highlights at Colorado:
Here's a breakdown of Hunter's stats in college, both at Jackson State and Colorado:
Hunter is listed at 188 pounds on his NFL draft profile on NFL.com.
Though Hunter attended the NFL combine in Indianapolis, the two-way star did not participate in the scouting event. However, he holds a prospect grade of 6.89 on NFL.com, which means he grades in as a Year 1 starter.
Hunter attended Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia. He was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class per 247Sports Composite Rankings, and the No. 1 cornerback and No. 1 player in the state of Georgia.
As noted by his player bio on Colorado's website, Hunter racked up 272 receptions for 3,963 yards and 48 touchdowns on offense in his four years at Collins Hill, while adding 116 tackles (four a loss), 19 interceptions, 18 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry on defense.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Travis Hunter draft: Jaguars pick Colorado star in NFL draft first round
Continue reading...
With the No. 2 overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars took the Colorado football two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner, a moment that cashed in a childhood dream for the Suwanee, Georgia native of playing in the NFL.
The Jaguars traded up to the No. 2 pick with the Cleveland Browns to select Hunter, making him a building block for their franchise alongside quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Taken with a top-two pick of the NFL draft, Hunter is tied with fullback Bo Matthews as the highest-drafted Colorado player in program history, after Matthews went No. 2 overall to the then-San Diego Chargers in 1974.
REQURIED READING: Who is Travis Hunter's dad? Two-way star's father at NFL draft after court permission
Hunter entered Thursday's opening round of the NFL Draft as the No. 1 overall prospect on USA TODAY's NFL Draft big board.
As noted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, Hunter will receive a four-year rookie deal with a fifth-year option as a first-round pick. The No. 2 overall pick holds a slot value of $41.12 million to $46.65 million, based on estimations from Spotrac and Over The Cap, respectively.
Here's more on Hunter's selection by the Jaguars:
Travis Hunter draft grade
USA TODAY's Ayrton Ostlygave a draft score of B+ for the Jaguars drafting Hunter:
"Jacksonville makes the first big splash of the night by moving up from No. 5 overall to No. 2 and select the consensus top player of the class. Hunter is a two-way star with All-Pro potential at cornerback and can be a solid No. 2 wideout on offense for the Jaguars. They gave up a steep price to move up three spots, though, and that's why the Jaguars do not get an A.
"The team announced Hunter as both a defensive back and wide receiver, a potential statement of intent for his future in Jacksonville."
Does Travis Hunter fit the Jacksonville Jaguars needs?
Trading up for a once-in-a-generational talent like Hunter, the Jaguars filled an immediate need at cornerback but also at wide receiver, as he was listed first as a receiver and then as a cornerback on the card.
Here's more from USA TODAY's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz's evaluation of Hunter going to Jacksonville:
"Well, how's that for a shake-up? After no trades involving a first-round pick materialized in the months leading up to the draft, Day 1 got a major infusion of drama in the form of the Jaguars moving from No. 5 to No. 2 for Hunter. How Jacksonville plans to use the electric Heisman Trophy winner will be fascinating, as the two-way threat could either be the answer at boundary cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell or team with Brian Thomas Jr. to form one of the league's most dynamic receiving duos. Hunter, of course, will want to pull double duty at both spots. The cost is at least approaching prohibitive for a non-quarterback, with Jacksonville giving up both a second-round selection this year and first-rounder next year. But in landing a player whom many – including us – ranked as the top overall player in this class, new general manager James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen have taken a major step toward fulfilling their goal of getting more explosive. Now, with their pick haul depleted, the pressure is on Gladstone to unearth the mid-to-late-round gems who helped keep the Los Angeles Rams – with whom the 34-year-old spent nearly the last decade – in top form."
Travis Hunter college
Hunter split his three-year collegiate career at Jackson State and Colorado.
As the No. 1 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class, Hunter famously chose to play for Deion Sanders at Jackson State over the likes of Florida State, Alabama, Auburn and Clemson. He followed Coach Prime to Colorado following the 2022 season. In his two seasons at Colorado, Hunter quickly became one of the most elusive and explosive two-way players in recent college football history.
In his two seasons in Boulder, Hunter played in an impressive 2,625 combined snaps on both ends of the ball, as noted by his profile page on Colorado's website. This past season, Hunter led all FBS players with 1,483 snaps played: 714 on offense, 748 on defense and 21 on special teams.
He took college football by storm in 2024 by putting together one of the more impressive single-season performances by a player in recent years. In 13 games last season for the Buffaloes, Hunter recorded 96 receptions for 1,258 receiving yards and a program single-season record 15 receiving touchdowns. Meanwhile on defense, Hunter racked up 36 total tackles, four interceptions for 65 yards, 11 broken-up passes and one forced fumble. He also had nine third down stops and one fourth down stop on defense this season.
In December, Hunter beat out Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the Heisman Trophy race. By winning college football's most prestigious individual award, he became the first Colorado player to do so since Rashaan Salaam in 1994 and the first two-way player since Charles Wooden to reach the feat.
Travis Hunter highlights
Here's a compilation of Hunter's highlights at Colorado:
Travis Hunter stats
Here's a breakdown of Hunter's stats in college, both at Jackson State and Colorado:
- 2022 (Jackson State): 18 receptions for 190 receiving yards and four touchdowns; 19 total tackles with eight broken-up passes and two interceptions (one touchdown return)
- 2023 (Colorado): 57 receptions for 721 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns; 31 total tackles with five broken-up passes and three interceptions
- 2024 (Colorado): 96 receptions for 1,258 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns; one rushing touchdown; 35 total tackles with 11 broken-up passes, four interceptions and one forced fumble
Travis Hunter weight
Hunter is listed at 188 pounds on his NFL draft profile on NFL.com.
Travis Hunter combine results
Though Hunter attended the NFL combine in Indianapolis, the two-way star did not participate in the scouting event. However, he holds a prospect grade of 6.89 on NFL.com, which means he grades in as a Year 1 starter.
Travis Hunter high school
Hunter attended Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia. He was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class per 247Sports Composite Rankings, and the No. 1 cornerback and No. 1 player in the state of Georgia.
As noted by his player bio on Colorado's website, Hunter racked up 272 receptions for 3,963 yards and 48 touchdowns on offense in his four years at Collins Hill, while adding 116 tackles (four a loss), 19 interceptions, 18 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry on defense.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Travis Hunter draft: Jaguars pick Colorado star in NFL draft first round
Continue reading...
