Look, everyone wants to talk about the back-flips and the 15 receiving touchdowns. It makes sense. It’s flashy. But if you really want to know why Travis Hunter is probably going to be the first pick in the NFL Draft, you have to look at the defensive side of the ball. Honestly, his numbers as a cornerback are arguably more insane than what he does at wide receiver.
He basically shut down half the field for Colorado in 2024.
While the Heisman hype was mostly built on him being a "two-way star," the advanced data suggests he might actually be a better corner than a receiver. That’s a hot take for a guy who just put up 1,258 receiving yards, but the tape doesn't lie. QBs just stopped looking his way.
The Raw Production: 2024 by the Numbers
In 13 games during the 2024 season, Hunter was a vacuum. He finished with 4 interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Now, those numbers alone are good, but they don't tell the full story because they don't account for the "fear factor."
Think about it.
He played nearly 700 snaps on defense. Out of 378 coverage snaps, he was targeted only 38 times. That is a target rate of about 10%. In simpler terms: every 10 times a quarterback dropped back to pass with Hunter on the field, they only dared to throw at him once.
Most of the time, he was just erasing the opponent's best receiver from the box score.
Defensive Totals (Colorado 2024)
- Tackles: 36 (25 solo)
- Interceptions: 4
- Pass Breakups (PBUs): 11
- Forced Fumbles: 1 (The iconic game-saver against Baylor)
- Touchdowns Allowed: 1
That Baylor play? That wasn't just a stat. It was a forced fumble at the goal line in overtime to win the game. It’s the kind of play that 100-snap-a-game players aren't supposed to have the energy to make.
Why NFL Scouts Are Obsessed
You've heard the comparisons. Charles Woodson. Champ Bailey. Deion Sanders.
Scouts love him because his "ball skills" aren't just a buzzword. Since he spends half the game playing receiver, he tracks the ball in the air better than any cornerback we’ve seen in a decade. He doesn't just "defend" the pass; he tries to catch it.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave him a 91.1 coverage grade for the 2024 season. That wasn't just high—it was the best in the entire country for Power 4 conferences.
He allowed only 22 completions all year.
Twenty-two.
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That averages out to about 1.7 catches allowed per game. If you're an offensive coordinator, you're basically playing 10-on-11 because Hunter has your "X" receiver in a straitjacket.
The "Press" Evolution
Earlier in his career at Jackson State, people worried about his frame. He’s lean—about 185 pounds. There was this narrative that big, physical NFL receivers would just bully him at the line of scrimmage.
But in 2024, he played 185 snaps in press coverage. He didn't just survive; he thrived. He uses his length to disrupt timing, and even if he gets beat for a half-step, his "click-and-close" speed is elite. He closes gaps before the ball can even get there.
The NFL Transition (Jacksonville and Beyond)
As we look at his early NFL trajectory—specifically with the Jaguars after being the 2nd overall pick—the "two-way" debate is still raging. In the first few weeks of the 2025 NFL season, his defensive usage was a bit of a roller coaster.
One week he's playing 90% of snaps, the next he's barely on the field for defense.
But check this out: in a Week 5 matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Hunter played 25 defensive snaps. He was targeted 3 times. He allowed one catch for 7 yards.
That’s it. Against the best quarterback on the planet, he gave up less yardage than a first-down marker.
The Jaguars have tried to find a "major" and "minor" balance for him. Usually, he’s majoring in WR because of the immediate fantasy impact, but his long-term ceiling as a lockdown, island corner is where the real value is.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think he’s a "gamble" because of the workload. They say he’ll burn out.
Honestly? The stats don't back that up.
In college, he averaged over 110 snaps per game. No one else has even cracked 80 since 2015. His conditioning isn't just "good"—it’s historic. He’s not a gimmick. He’s a legitimate CB1 who happens to be a 1,000-yard receiver in his spare time.
If you're tracking travis hunter corner stats to see if he's the real deal, stop looking at the tackle numbers. Cornerbacks who tackle a lot are usually giving up catches. Look at the targets. Look at the "First Downs Allowed" (he allowed only 6 in the 2024 regular season).
He is a deterrent.
Key Insights for Analysts
- Target Rate: Look for games where he is targeted fewer than 4 times; that’s a "dominant" performance, even if he has 0 INTs.
- Yards Per Target: Anything under 6.0 yards per target is elite. Hunter often sits in the 4.5 to 5.2 range.
- Snap Count: Watch for the 60/40 split. The NFL seems to prefer him playing about 60% of offensive snaps and 40% defensive snaps to keep his legs fresh for the 4th quarter.
The real test for Hunter at corner isn't whether he can catch the ball—we know he can. It’s whether he can maintain his discipline against NFL-level route runners like Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase who won't be fooled by his baiting techniques. So far, the data suggests he’s more than ready.
To keep a pulse on his development, focus on his "Yards Allowed Per Coverage Snap." This metric filters out the noise of his offensive production and shows exactly how efficient he is at erasing his assignment. As he moves into the 2026 season, expect NFL teams to challenge him more often just to see if the rookie wall is real; if his target rate stays low, you'll know he's officially arrived as a premier lockdown corner.