Colorado Buffaloes Football

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 198

HAND: 9⅜"

ARM: 31½"

WINGSPAN: 77¾"

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POSITIVES

— High-level passer, throws with great accuracy, and ball placement from the pocket.

— Displays mental resolve in late-game/clutch situations. Trustworthy when the game is on the line.

— Accustomed to throwing from muddy pockets. He stands tall to deliver the ball downfield.

— When protected, picks defenses apart with precision and surgical process.

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NEGATIVES

— He does not utilize his athleticism enough to escape the pocket quickly and avoid pressure.

— Needs to limit pocket drifting when sensing pressure, step up and make the throw.

— Improving route anticipation, tends to wait for his WR to break and look for the ball before throwing.

— Needs to throw the ball away against pressure and stop taking sacks.

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NOTES

— Born Feb. 7, 2002

— 4-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Son of Hall of Fame DB, Deion Sanders

— 2024 Named first-team All-Big 12; Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year; Johnny Unitas Award winner

— 2023 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year (AP)

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OVERALL

Shedeur Sanders is one of the purest passers from the pocket in college football and the NFL Draft class.

Sanders is a precision pocket passer. When protected by the offensive line, he dissects defensive coverages quickly. Sanders is an accurate and precise passer, especially in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field. He has an NFL caliber arm and velocity to make the requisite throws to win at the next level. He throws with good pacing at all three-levels. Sanders is among the best in terms of accuracy on down the field throws. He throws with great arc and trajectory for his receivers to run under/through the ball.

Sanders excels at leading his receivers away from coverage and protecting them from big hits. His ball placement is great, he can put the ball where he wants with control. He displays innate comfort, throwing from muddy pockets with pressure bearing down. He brings outstanding poise and calmness in late-game situations to lead his team to victory.

However, Sanders takes too many hits because he tries to make a play and holds onto the ball. Sanders must improve his anticipation and get the ball out of his hands quicker. He would benefit from more velocity on drive throws.

Although Sanders has been willing to throw from muddy pockets and under pressure, defenses with consistent pass-rush packages can disrupt his timing and speed up his process. It would benefit him to be more proactive with his legs to give himself a better chance to overcome pressure packages earlier in games.

Overall, Sanders' natural and pure passing abilities are the strength of his game. He is a high-floor prospect with a good ceiling to buy into. Sanders is best suited for a quick-passing offense, where he can play on time and on schedule. He has the mental aptitude and accuracy to become a franchise-leading quarterback.

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GRADE: 8.0 (Year 1 Starter — 1st Round)

OVERALL RANK: 24

POSITION RANK: QB2

PRO COMPARISON: Shades of Geno Smith with less arm talent

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 188

HAND: 9⅛”

ARM: 31⅜”

WINGSPAN: 76⅞”

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POSITIVES

— High-IQ player who is always aware of the situation and where he is on the field.

— Hunter has great length and a frame that can support more weight. To pair with his size, he has close-to-rare body control and athleticism.

— He is a twitchy player with great acceleration, allowing him to get to top speed in short areas quickly. His long speed also continues to build, allowing him to run with all receivers he's covered.

— A true ball-hawk, he turns into the receiver with the ball in the air.

— More than a willing tackler, Hunter has routinely shown to be a secure tackler with great awareness of down and distance.

— Rare conditioning and effort. Playing unprecedented snaps on both sides of the ball, Hunter plays with a high motor on defense, routinely showing up around the ball.

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NEGATIVES

— Still raw in his overall cornerback technique. Often gets away with supreme athleticism.

— Very good frame but will need to continue to fill out and improve functional strength.

— May lack the foot quickness to cover in the slot at the next level.

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2024 STATISTICS

— 10 Games, 53 Tackles, 3 TFL, 6 INT, 19 PBU, 1 FF

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NOTES

— Born May 18, 2003

— Games Started: 27

— 5-Star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports

—2024 Heisman Trophy; Walter Camp Award; AP College Player of the Year; Chuck Bednarik Award; Fred Biletnikoff Award; Lott Trophy; Unanimous All-Aerican

— 2023 Paul Hornung Award; Consensus All-American; Second-Team All Pac-12

— 2022 SWAC Freshman of The Year; Second-Team All-SWAC

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OVERALL

Travis Hunter is an exceptionally versatile and athletic cornerback prospect from Colorado, widely regarded as one of the top overall talents in the 2025 NFL Draft. At 6'1" and 185 pounds, Hunter combines impressive length with rare body control and athleticism, making him a standout performer on both sides of the ball. His high football IQ and ability to quickly adapt and excel in multiple roles have made him a consensus All-American and one of the most intriguing prospects entering the draft.

In coverage, Hunter showcases a rare blend of physical tools and mental acuity. His excellent vision and awareness allow him to maintain leverage while in coverage, consistently positioning himself to make plays on the ball. Hunter's twitchy athleticism and rapid acceleration enable him to close gaps quickly, while his long speed allows him to keep pace with any receiver he's matched against. What truly sets Hunter apart is his ball-hawking ability; he has a natural instinct for tracking the ball in the air, often turning into the receiver and making contested catches with strong hands. Despite his considerable talents, Hunter is still somewhat raw in his overall cornerback technique. He often relies on his athleticism to compensate for technical lapses, which could be exposed at the next level if not refined. Additionally, his foot quickness may limit his ability to consistently cover shifty slot receivers in the NFL.

Hunter is more than just a cover corner; he is a willing and secure tackler who plays with a strong understanding of situational football. His awareness of down and distance is evident in his ability to make critical tackles that prevent first downs and big plays. Hunter's physicality and effort are on display in run support, where he routinely takes on blockers and gets involved in stopping the run. His conditioning and motor are also exceptional, as evidenced by his ability to play a high volume of snaps on both offense and defense without a drop in intensity. This relentless effort ensures that Hunter is frequently around the ball, contributing to his overall impact on the game.

Travis Hunter projects as a top-10 pick in the NFL draft with the potential to become an elite cornerback at the next level. His combination of length, athleticism, and football intelligence makes him a valuable asset in both man and zone coverage schemes. While he will need to refine his technique and develop more consistent footwork to handle NFL-level slot receivers, his rare physical gifts and ball skills give him a high ceiling as a defensive playmaker. Hunter's willingness to tackle and high motor add to his appeal, making him a well-rounded prospect with the potential to be a cornerstone of an NFL secondary. With proper development, Hunter has the tools to become a perennial Pro Bowler and one of the top cornerbacks in the league.

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GRADE: 9.2 (Top-10 Player — 1st Round)

OVERALL RANK: 1

POSITION RANK: CB1

PRO COMPARISON: Patrick Peterson

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

More than three weeks after Colorado earned a 28-9 win over Colorado State in the latest round of the Rocky Mountain Showdown, Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders is still talking about his team's in-state rival.

Sanders used some of his press conference on Tuesday to question the veracity of claims by Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton that they each turned down $600,000 NIL offers to remain with the Rams.

COACH PRIME HAD TIME TODAY 🤣 pic.twitter.com/PVc9VQimfM

— Rivals (@Rivals) October 8, 2024

As part of a bigger story by Kevin Lytle of the Fort Collins Coloradoan about Colorado State working to keep its top players from leaving in the transfer portal for lucrative NIL offers from other programs, head coach Jay Norvell said Fowler-Nicolosi turned down a $600,000 offer to stay.

Norvell also said in the story that Horton turned down six-figure offers because he was deciding between either staying with the Rams or entering the NFL draft. He announced a short time later that he would be returning to school for his fifth year of eligibility.

Le it be known: Colorado State can't be bought.

CSU QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and WR Tory Horton were each offered $600,000 to hit the transfer portal. They declined, and chose to stay at CSU.

I asked the pair the reason why. Their responses are impressive. pic.twitter.com/zGgeAcCaYQ

— Richie Cozzolino (@RichieCozz) August 14, 2024

During Mountain West media days in July, Norvell said "a guy" from Kansas State made the offer to Fowler-Nicolosi.

CSU head coach Jay Norvell says QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi received a $600k offer from Kansas State to enter the Transfer Portal👀

"He said a guy from Kansas State called him, offered him $600k because they lost their quarterback, if he got in the portal. And I’m not accusing… pic.twitter.com/RL6fppUFpA

— On3 (@On3sports) July 12, 2024

One thing that is becoming clear in the NIL era is that the nature of these offers does have to be put under close scrutiny. UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka announced on Sept. 25 he was going to utilize a redshirt season effective immediately because of unfulfilled NIL promises made that weren't kept.

pic.twitter.com/oK5BDRpoxK

— Matthew Sluka (@MatthewSluka) September 25, 2024

Sluka's agent, Marcus Cromartie, told Eric Olson of the Associated Press his client was promised $100,000 by an assistant coach after he agreed to transfer to UNLV, but there was no written agreement in place and attempts to set up payment plan were unsuccessful.

There's no indication the situation involving the two Colorado State players would have resulted in a similar scenario if they had transferred, but it does raise a lot of questions about the validity of some of these offers.

Why all of this bothered Sanders to the point he needed to bring it up now is unclear. There is bad blood between the two programs after last year's dramatic 43-35 overtime win by Colorado, but they have already played this year in what was an easy victory for Coach Prime's squad.

Colorado is playing No. 18 Kansas State on Saturday, so perhaps the Wildcats' interest in Fowler-Nicolosi got Sanders fired up to take another dig at Colorado State.

Colorado star Shedeur Sanders recently met NBA star Kyrie Irving at a WNBA playoff game between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces.

Sanders, who is preparing to start his NFL career after the 2024 season with the Buffs, said he learned a lot through their interaction and plans to keep in touch with Irving moving forward.

"He has so much knowledge," Sanders said on his podcast (21:00 mark). "He's done the majority of things I want to do in life so, I feel like surrounding yourself with those type of people and getting knowledge and learning from them will save you a lot of time, save you a lot of money and save you a lot of mental stress. I'm really excited I was able to meet him and I feel like that's a lifelong connection."

When Irving was drafted out of Duke with the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NBA draft, there were plenty of expectations. It's fair to say he's lived up to those expectations, winning an NBA title and achieving plenty of other accolades.

Sanders now finds himself in a similar position as Irving, garnering plenty of hype from his outstanding collegiate career.

The quarterback has 1,630 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions so far this year, leading the Buffs to a 4-1 start. He'll look to continue his strong season on Saturday when Colorado faces Kansas State.

It apparently will take a lot to keep Travis Hunter in Colorado next season.

The superstar wideout and cornerback would potentially be a top-five pick in next year's NFL draft should he declare himself eligible, though when asked on a Well Off Media video if a $40 million NIL deal would be enough to keep him in Colorado, he smiled and seemed to acknowledge that such an offer would probably do the trick (17:00 mark).

While it's up for debate whether Hunter should focus more on cornerback or wideout at the next level, it seems a given that he's on a path of stardom. The junior has caught 46 passes for 561 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 15 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble and three passes defensed on the defensive side of the ball.

Those numbers have kept Hunter in the Heisman watch this season. They almost assuredly won't keep him at Colorado, with the NFL's greener pastures awaiting.

After recent comments from NFL legend Richard Sherman apparently calling Colorado star Travis Hunter "bland," Sherman joined Hunter's podcast to discuss the remarks.

Sherman and Hunter laughed off any beef and Sherman explained that he didn't say "bland," but rather said Hunter might blend into the crowd as a receiver compared to playing cornerback in the NFL.

First off, people hear what they want to hear," Sherman said (0:43 mark). "What I said was 'blend.' ...It's just because there's so many dudes playing receiver. So many 4.3 (second 40-yard dash), 6'1", athletic. You see (Alabama's Ryan Williams), you see all these young kids. There's a lot of young kids that are talented that can play receiver. But there are very few corners that can be athletic, have the ball skills have the extinct. Corner's a different beast... To have somebody with those ball skills is more rare than having a receiver that can do it. That's what I meant, you're going to blend into the crowd, but as a corner, it just stands out. Everything you do stands out far and away.

After Hunter initially perceived Sherman as calling him bland, he responded by wearing a t-shirt that read "bland" before Colorado's matchup with UCF on Saturday.

Travis Hunter showed up to UCF with this shirt after Richard Sherman called him a “bland” receiver 👀 pic.twitter.com/zwECvretNT

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 28, 2024

Sherman and most college football fans would likely agree that Hunter is anything but bland. The Buffaloes star has 561 receiving yards and six touchdowns through just five games and has been electric on defense with 15 tackles, two interceptions, three passes deflected and a forced fumble.

Soon, he will have to make a decision whether he wants to pursue an NFL career as a wide receiver or as a defensive back, much like Sherman had to do when he was in college at Stanford.

With any beef between the two now sorted out, Hunter will likely look to the Future Hall of Famer for advice.

Nine out of 20 NFL scouts and executives surveyed in an anonymous poll by ESPN ranked Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders as the top quarterback of the upcoming 2025 NFL draft.

Sanders received the most votes from NFL evaluators, followed by Georgia's Carson Beck (five votes) and Alabama's Jalen Milroe (four votes), according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers both received one vote each, Thamel reported.

Thamel wrote that the poll is a reflection of the "potential volatility" of these quarterback rankings, and that NFL insiders believe it is "rare to have this many quarterbacks in the conversation and this much uncertainty around the position" six months out from the draft.

Thamel also wrote that there is "unanimous feeling in scouting circles that there's a significant step back in top quarterback talent from the 2024 draft class."

The ESPN reporter noted that "a few scouts" did not answer the poll and said it was too early in the college season to decide on signal caller's draft prospects.

The 2024 draft class set an NFL record with six quarterbacks selected among the top 12 picks as Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye topped the draft, followed by No. 8 Michael Penix. Jr, No. 10 J.J. McCarthy and No. 12 Bo Nix.

Unlike the previous draft, which had Williams as a clear presumptive No. 1 with Daniels and Maye on a second tier behind him, there isn't a consensus clear answer as to the top quarterback in the class.

Also unlike that draft, the 2025 addition isn't a lock to have a quarterback as the No. 1 selection with players like Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter receiving early buzz as a potential top pick.

The buzz surrounding Ewers has dipped after missing two straight games with an abdominal strain, but the Texas quarterback is reportedly expected to return next Saturday against Oklahoma and could raise his draft stock with a strong performance against the No. 19 Sooners.

Ward is meanwhile playing himself into the first round conversation as the first player in six years to lead his school to 5-0 start while passing for at least three touchdowns and 300 yards in each win (h/t Greg Harvey of Stats Perform.)

Milroe followed up his impressive junior season by returning as an improved passer in 2024 and completing 72.9 percent of his passes through four games.

Beck, who led the SEC with 3,941 passing yards last year, struggled last Saturday during Georgia's loss to No. 1 Alabama. After he threw three interceptions and completed just 59 percent of his 50 pass attempts, Thamel noted that some scouts "picked Beck through gritted teeth."

Sanders received his nine votes after leading Colorado to a stunning overtime win over Baylor in Week 4. The Buffaloes quarterback threw two Hail Mary pass attempts in the final seconds of the game, one of which connected to force the game to extra time. His ability to lead Colorado to a 4-1 season-opening record behind a sometimes leaky offensive line could potentially be earning him more admiration from scouts compared to Beck's work with an offensive powerhouse like Georgia.

Sanders' position atop the upcoming draft seems anything but assured, however. The return of Ewers, the improved play of Milroe and the rise of Ward could lead to a new quarterback order before the draft begins next April.

Two anonymous NFL scouts believe Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter should focus on becoming a professional wide receiver in order to avoid the injury risks on the other side of the ball, according to ESPN's Matt Miller.

One AFC college scouting director told Miller that Hunter's listed stats of 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds mean he would thrive in a more protected position.

"I wouldn't want to expose him to the shoulder issues of a tackler, full-time," the AFC scout told Miller. "We're not talking about a 200- or 210-pound guy."

Another scout in the NFC West agreed, despite acknowledging Hunter's potential as a top NFL cornerback.

"I think he could be a top-five corner, but this is an offensive league, and the money is being spent on that side of the ball," the NFC scout told Miller. "I don't see why you'd ask a player with his potential to play defense and risk injury."

TRAVIS 🔥 HUNTER 🔥

Diving catch for @CUBuffsFootball! 💪 pic.twitter.com/t1mwk2CtpW

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 22, 2024

Hunter so far leads the Big 12 with 46 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns as a wide receiver, while recording 16 tackles and two interceptions as a defender to help lead Colorado to a 4-1 start to the 2024 season.

That has required Hunter to play nearly every snap for the Buffaloes. He is averaging 124 snaps per game through the five weeks of the season, per TruMediaSports and Scott Procter of the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

The two-way star has repeatedly said he wants to continue playing both positions in the NFL, but many scouts don't see the 620 total snaps he has recorded through five games as sustainable at the next level.

WHAT AN INTERCEPTION BY TRAVIS HUNTER

He makes the play and hits the Heisman pose 🔥@CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/cF3MLeOpuM

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 28, 2024

Even beyond the injury risks inherent in playing such a high percentage of snaps, some NFL scouts believe that Hunter would benefit from focusing on one position over the other in order to develop into an elite pro player.

"You love his work ethic and his want to play every snap, but this is the NFL and not the Big 12. The starting cornerbacks at this level are really good. The starting receivers are really good," an NFC defensive backs coach told Miller. "He's a great player in college, but the time it takes to be great at one position in the NFL is massive. Focusing on two positions will ultimately hold him back from being very good at one of them."

The B/R NFL Scouting Department projects Hunter as a No. 1 pick in their latest top-10 mock of the 2025 NFL Draft. His ability to succeed as both receiver and cornerback during his third college season could continue raising his draft stock, even if whichever team drafts him plans to develop him into a single-position player in the NFL.

The NFL already appears to be enamored with Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter and his potential on offense.

Jordan Reid and Matt Miller of ESPN spoke with several NFL executives about Hunter and where he projects best as an NFL player. Despite his excellence on defense, some believe that his potential as a wide receiver is too much to pass up on.

"Even if you take away what he does on defense, I think he's the best player in college," an AFC general manager told Reid and Miller.

A scout from the AFC South said that while Hunter is excellent at both corner and receiver, he could already step into the league and be productive as a receiver.

"He's a unique prospect," an AFC South area scout told Reid and Miller. "He's really good at both positions ... but he can be a good wide receiver immediately. Not a true WR1 right away, but a good WR2 all day. And with his work ethic, if he wanted to, he'd be great."

Another scout said that Hunter can be impactful wherever he prefers but that the offensive styles in the NFL would make him a strong wide receiver.

"That guy can play whatever he wants," an AFC East area scout told Reid and Miller. "[But] I think the way the league is going -- with wide-open offenses -- I think you put him at wide receiver."

Hunter is in his second season with Colorado and has helped the team get off to a 4-1 start. He has been a major reason for this as he has compiled 46 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns through five games. His catches and touchdowns currently lead the nation.

He has remained impactful on defense as well, with 16 tackles and two interceptions thus far.

While he may intend to play both positions at the next level, the talent jump from college to the NFL will be a difficult one to manage when playing both sides of the ball. If he were to decide between the two, it looks like those around the NFL believe he should choose to play offense.

Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter says he hopes to stay in-state even if he decides to forgo his senior season with the Buffaloes in order to enter the 2025 NFL Draft.

"I wish I could go to the Broncos, just to stay in Colorado," Hunter said on Thursday's episode of the Kickin' It with Dee podcast (23:00 mark.) "Because so much people just welcomed us with open arms. They showed us love that we would never have gotten in a different spot."

Hunter joined the Buffaloes ahead of the 2023 season after beginning his career with head coach Deion Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders at Jackson State.

Since then the two-way star said he has been welcomed by the Boulder community "with open arms."

"My neighbors, they know my car in the neighborhood, so they come over there before every game... they have a sign in front of my truck, and they say, 'He's everywhere,' 'He's him,' 'Heisman to him.' They switch it up every game, so I get to see that, and that's cool," Hunter said. "And then I get the little kids in my neighborhood to come over and want me to sign stuff.

"That's cool, 'cause I want to leave an impact on this community over here. I mean, they took us in with open arms."

This is not the first time Hunter has said he would like to play for the Broncos. He said before the 2023 season that he would end up in Denver if he "had a say."

Hunter, who leads the Big 12 with 46 catches while recording 561 receiving yards and six touchdowns through four games, has also recorded 16 tackles and two interceptions on the other side of the ball.

The B/R NFL Scouting Department projected Hunter as the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft in their latest mock. Even if the team with the No. 1 pick chooses to address a positional need by going for a quarterback, Hunter is still an early bet to be a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft.

As it stands, the Broncos, who have opened the season with a 2-2 record, will need to start losing more games to have a probable shot at Hunter. If he does end up in Colorado, the two-way star could be a game-changing addition alongside rookie quarterback Bo Nix next season.