Mel Kiper Makes Major Declaration on Travis Hunter's Draft Stock

Veteran ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has Colorado standout Travis Hunter as his No. 1 overall prospect and believes he'll be able to maintain playing on both sides of the ball in the NFL.

Kiper released his list of overall prospects on Friday and Hunter headlined the selections.

"Hunter has a great feel for the game on both offense and defense, and we saw it in Colorado's opener against North Dakota State," Kiper said. "He played a whopping 124 of 126 scrimmage snaps and took over, showing his talent at both receiver and cornerback. I really think he has a chance to play both sides of the ball early in his pro career and make an impact both ways. The offensive and defensive coordinators for the team that ultimately drafts him are going to be battling each other to use him. He's a top-two player on my board at both positions."

Hunter is almost certain to be in the conversation for the first overall pick on draft day. His rare two-way ability is virtually unheard of at the NFL level, forcing teams to carefully consider how best to utilize his unique skill set.

As Kiper noted, Hunter played almost all of Colorado's opener against North Dakota State. He notched seven catches for 132 receiving yards and three touchdowns. On defense, Hunter collected three tackles but showed great ability in coverage.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders joined Hunter within the top 10 on Kiper's list. Sanders came in No. 9 and as the second quarterback, one spot behind Georgia passer Carson Beck.

Related: Shedeur Sanders Draws Strong Reaction From Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola