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WATCH: Former top recruit Travis Hunter puts on show at Jackson State spring game

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•04/25/22•

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Photo by Charles A. Smith/University Communications/Jackson University via Getty Images

The No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2022 Travis Hunter showed his dominance on the field during Jackson State‘s annual spring game. Hunter, who originally committed to Florida State before flipping his decision on signing day, proved why he deserves snaps on both sides of the ball.

The fade was his second score of the day. Despite going 80 yards on the seconds touchdown reception, Hunter’s first might have been more impressive. How about a fifty-fifty ball snagged in the back corner of the end zone over the defense?

The benefit of having the No. 1 overall recruit being labeled an athlete breeds possibilities of playing Hunter on both sides of the ball. After snagging two touchdowns through the air, Hunter switched to defense and picked off the opposing quarterback — all in the first quarter.

He would add one more interception before his spring game snap count was used up, giving fans across the nation a glimpse of what is to come during his career under head coach and NFL legend Deion Sanders with the Tigers.

Sanders was interviewed during the broadcast and noted that he knows what Hunter is capable of on offense and wanted to use the spring game’s live scrimmage setting to gauge his abilities on the defensive side of the ball as well.

Hunter flipped his commitment to Jackson State with the vision of blazing his own trail in the NIL era of college football. He wants to be remembered for starting the trend of athletes taking control of their narrative, while still proving his greatness on the field.

“I want to be part of that history, and more, I want to be part of that future. I am making this decision so that I can light the way for others to follow, make it a little easier for the next player to recognize that HBCUs may be everything you want and more: an exciting college experience, a vital community, and a life-changing place to play football,” Hunter said. “I look forward to working with the iconic Deion Sanders, and especially with my fellow Tigers. Along with Coach Prime, they have made me feel like I’m already part of the team. Like I’m home. And I can’t wait to welcome the next class of top athletes into the family of HBCUs.”

To say Hunter will be on the level of a Rice, or Payton by the time he leaves JSU is a bold statement, but with his level of talent and work ethic in a league like the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), the numbers might be close when it’s Hunter’s turn to move on to the next level and is already off to a hot start following his spring showcase.