If you’re Travis Hunter, life ain’t simple right now. The Heisman-winning, two-way phenom is on the verge of making the biggest decision of his football career, and the NFL world is waiting on edge. Does he lock in as CB1 or WR1 at the next level? Or does he keep defying football logic, playing both sides? That’s the million-dollar question. And while the draft hype is reaching a fever pitch, his mother, Ferrante Edmonds, is turning to faith after a new draft shakeup threw a curveball at her son’s future.
Standing at 6’1”, 185 pounds, Hunter was simply diabolical for the Colorado Buffaloes in 2024. On offense, he torched defenses with 96 catches, 1,258 yards, and 15 touchdowns. On defense, he locked up WR1s across the country with 36 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and four picks. Oh, and just to flex, he won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year while catching double-digit touchdowns.
But look, the NFL ain’t college football. You can’t be guarding Justin Jefferson on one snap and then running a route on Patrick Surtain II on the next. That might work in the short term, but long term? The wear and tear could cut his career in half. ESPN’s Todd McShay put it bluntly: “Where are we gonna play him? I mean, that’s the big question… He was pitched as a corner coming out of high school… but I actually think he’s a better wide receiver right now.”
Now, with the NFL Combine approaching, all eyes are on Hunter’s 40-yard dash. Reports from ‘NFL Rookie Watch’ say he’s targeting somewhere between a 4.25 and 4.35, which, if he pulls off, would put him in straight-up Tyreek Hill territory. He also plans to enter the Combine as CB. That kind of speed at corner? Dangerous. Reports say he’s still dead set on playing both sides full-time in the NFL. But even with all that heat, he’s got company. Crazy right?
For months, Hunter was seen as the no-doubt No. 1 overall pick, but Penn State’s Abdul Carter just shook up the whole game. Carter, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has scouts talking. The Pennsylvania native racked up 12 sacks, 43 solo tackles, and two forced fumbles in 2024, and now some mock drafts have him leapfrogging Hunter for the top pick.
McShay even hinted at it, saying, “With Abdul, you know what you’ve got, and you’ve got an absolute stud as a pass rusher, just like intangibles and everything that he brings. And it’s hard to—not hard to find. It’s not a unicorn. But when you can get one, you get one.”
Some mock drafts now have Carter going No. 1, ahead of Hunter. And let’s just say that news had Hunter’s mom, Ferrante Edmonds, turning straight to faith.
Mama Hunter’s faith and Deion Sanders’ stance on Travis Hunter’s future
With the draft buzz shifting, Ferrante Edmonds took to IG and delivered a powerful message. “The doors that God have for you, nobody can shut. So why are you worrying about addressing something that ain’t gonna bring you glory… I don’t have time to go back. If I go back, I’m missing the blessing that God have for me.” That was Ferrante’s response after hearing the latest draft updates. She doubled down with some deep wisdom: “It’s never too late to write your story, so write your story. Don’t allow other people to get their pen and write you.” Translation? The blessing that God stored for you will find you. Don’t let naysayers and other people write your path for you.
One man who has zero doubts about Hunter’s ability to do both? Deion Sanders.
Back in December, Coach Prime went on The Rich Eisen Show and basically sent out an NFL-wide PSA: “He’s gonna do that (play both ways), or they shouldn’t draft him. Don’t draft him if you’re not gonna give him the opportunity to play on both sides of the ba-l. Now, you can be creative. He don’t have to do what we did with him here and play every snap.” Prime basically told NFL teams to let Hunter be Hunter or keep it pushing. But let’s be real—NFL coaches aren’t exactly in the business of experimenting at the expense of their jobs.
So what’s the move? If Travis Hunter goes all-in at corner, he could be the next shutdown guy in the league. If he sticks with wide receiver, he could be a highlight reel waiting to happen. If he actually tries to do both? He’s either the next great NFL innovator or the next cautionary tale of doing too much. Either way, Hunter’s got a generational decision on his hands, and the football world is about to find out just how far his two-way dream can go.
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