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Travis Hunter Reacts to Raiders, Giants Rumors: 'Not Trying to Think Too Far Ahead'

Mike Chiari

University of Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter made it clear Saturday that he isn't looking ahead to the 2025 NFL draft quite yet.

During an appearance on ESPN SportsCenter, Hunter noted that he is focusing on the here and now, saying:

"I didn't think that far yet. I'm just where my feet are right now and that's here in New York doing the Heisman ceremony. So, I'm here enjoying my time and then next week I'll be ready preparing for the bowl game and then after that I'll be preparing for the draft and how everything goes with that. But I'm just where my feet are right now. I'm not trying to think too far ahead, can't mess up the mental box trying to think too far ahead."

Hunter is favored to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, and he is widely expected to be one of the top picks in the 2025 NFL draft as well.

After transferring last season from FCS Jackson State to Colorado along with head coach Deion Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Hunter took the college football world by storm.

Playing a full allotment of snaps at both wide receiver and cornerback, Hunter did something that hadn't been seen in major college football in many years, but he did it with a 4-8 team and dealt with some injuries.

Things were different this season, as Hunter played in all 12 games and the Buffaloes improve significantly to the tune of a 9-3 record.

Hunter was a huge reason for the success, as he caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, and recorded 32 tackles, four interceptions and 11 passes defended.

By virtue of his performance on both sides of the ball. Hunter has cleaned up when it comes to postseason awards, being named AP College Football Player of the Year, and winning the Walter Camp Award as player of the year, Chuck Bednarik Award as defensive player of the year, Fred Biletnikoff Award as wide receiver of the year and Paul Hornung Award as most versatile player of the year.

As a result, Hunter is widely viewed as the best overall player in the 2025 NFL draft class, even though it still isn't known if he will primarily be a wide receiver or cornerback at the next level.

Despite his unique skill set, Hunter is far from guaranteed to go No. 1 overall, especially if a quarterback-needy team ends up with the top pick.

The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants are currently tied for the worst record in the NFL at 2-11, and both of them have a massive need at quarterback, making them strong candidates to take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward.

Should that happen, it is possible Hunter could fall to No. 3 overall to a team like the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars or Carolina Panthers, all of whom already have young, talented quarterbacks.

That won't play out until April, though, an Hunter's comments suggest he is taking things one day at a time.

It starts with likely being named the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner on Friday, followed by Colorado's bowl game against BYU in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.

However, once the 2024 college football season comes to an end, Hunter's draft stock will undoubtedly be among the biggest talking points during the lead up to the 2025 NFL draft.

   

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