Travis Hunter 'secures his place' as No. 1 NFL Draft pick after bold self-assessment

In just one game, Colorado star Travis Hunter showed NFL scouts exactly why he deserves to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft .

Though it wasn’t always pretty, Colorado managed to squeak out a 31-26 win over North Dakota State in their season opener. After entering halftime down 20-14, the Buffaloes stormed out of the locker room and put together two touchdown drives to go up 31-20 late in the fourth quarter.

The Bison wouldn’t go down without a fight, drawing within five points with two minutes left in the game. With no time remaining on the clock, North Dakota State sent one last prayer heave down the field, but the Hail Mary was reeled in several yards short of the endzone.

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Despite the late scare, Hunter and Shedeur Sanders shined throughout the back-and-forth contest. The wide receiver/cornerback reeled in 3 touchdowns off his seven catches for 132 yards, while the quarterback completed 26-of-34 passes for 445 yards and four scores.

Hunter saved his best touchdown for last, reaching around an oncoming defender and corralling the pass from Sanders in the front right corner of the endzone with just under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Fans online quickly took to social media to commend Hunter on the dominant performance, with several NFL stars - both past and present - giving him his due praise. “Whoever got that first pick , idc if you need a Lineman or QB Travis Hunter is one of one,” Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill said on X.

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Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III expressed a similar sentiment, writing: "Shedeur Sanders isn’t just a top 5 pick. Travis Hunter isn’t just a top 5 pick. They are both worthy of being the 1st pick in the NFL Draft.” In a separate post, he added: “He is a UNICORN. Travis Hunter keeps showing that he can and he SHOULD play both WR and CB in the NFL FULL TIME.”

In his third collegiate season and second with Colorado, Hunter has continued to carry a major load on both sides of the football - starting at both cornerback and wide receiver, as well as playing a role on special teams. The 21-year-old’s versatility has made him an early Hesiman favorite - an award that he seems intent on adding to his trophy case.

Asked what his goals for this season were, Hunter told ESPN : "Heisman Trophy and win a bowl game or get to the national championship."

Though few would question Hunter’s freakish athleticism, some have argued that he will likely not be able to play on both offense and defense at the professional level. Hunter is no stranger to dealing with doubters, however, asserting: "Pretty often, people say I can't be real, and it's amazing what I do."