Richard Sherman recently appeared on the St. Brown Podcast to share his thoughts on football, with the college and NFL seasons now in full swing. During the discussion, Colorado’s dynamic star Travis Hunter became a central topic of conversation, particularly regarding his NFL future and the feasibility of him continuing to play on both sides of the ball at the professional level.
Sherman, a former All-Pro cornerback, was asked about Hunter’s unique ability to excel as both a cornerback and a wide receiver. While many have been captivated by Hunter’s talent on offense and defense, Sherman was skeptical about whether such a role would translate to the NFL.
Sherman bluntly dismissed the idea that Hunter—or anyone—could effectively play both offense and defense at the pro level. “We’re not playing 50 snaps on offense and 55 snaps on defense [in the NFL],” Sherman said. He explained that the physical demands in the NFL would be far too taxing for any player to sustain a dual role. “These quarterbacks are going to test you. They’ll say, ‘Hey, let’s see how in shape you are by the end of the fourth quarter. We just saw you run three go routes, and now I’m bringing our third receiver in to run you on three more.'”
Sherman’s point was simple: playing both sides of the ball at the NFL level would be too daunting, not just for Hunter, but for anyone. The pace, size, and physicality of NFL players would make it an overwhelming challenge to keep up as both a corner and a receiver for an entire game.
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However, Travis Hunter has already shown he can handle the workload at the college level. In his debut with the University of Colorado last year, Hunter played an astonishing 151 snaps, contributing significantly on both sides of the ball. He accumulated 119 receiving yards and even intercepted a pass on defense, showcasing his ability to dominate in multiple facets of the game.
Now in his second season, Hunter continues to impress as a true dual-threat athlete. He currently leads the Buffaloes in receiving yards and touchdown catches while also making an impact on defense, with an interception and a game-saving forced fumble against Baylor. His versatility and endurance have drawn praise from fans and analysts alike, making him one of the most exciting talents in college football.
Despite Sherman’s doubts, Hunter remains adamant that he can continue his two-way dominance at the professional level. “There’s a lot of people that have been telling me I can’t play both corner and receiver,” Hunter said in a recent interview. “I’m going to continue to prove them wrong.”
Hunter didn’t take kindly to Sherman’s recent remarks and responded directly on social media. After hearing Sherman’s take, Hunter posted on his Instagram story, “Stop speaking on me and let me play football.”
But Sherman didn’t just critique Hunter’s ability to play both positions—he also questioned Hunter’s skillset as a wide receiver. Sherman criticized the young star’s route-running, calling it “bland,” and suggesting that Hunter’s physical build makes him more suited for defense. “I think he goes as a corner just because of his size,” Sherman said. “He’s not a special size, super dynamic route runner. He’s a great athlete, and he’s so smooth. I’m sure if he focused on receiver, he could be elite, but as a corner, he just looks more natural.”
In Sherman’s view, the time has come for Hunter to choose a primary position, believing that he has a higher ceiling as a cornerback given his natural abilities on defense. However, Hunter appears to have no plans of giving up his two-way role anytime soon. As one of college football’s most versatile athletes, Hunter is determined to carve his own path, whether that’s sticking to both positions or proving doubters like Sherman wrong.
For now, the debate over Hunter’s future continues, but one thing is clear: Travis Hunter is not ready to let go of his dream of playing both sides of the ball, even as NFL legends like Sherman weigh in with their skepticism.
Whether he eventually narrows his focus to one position or continues to excel at both, Hunter’s journey to the NFL will be one to watch closely.
