Titans' Brian Callahan: 'It's very realistic' Travis Hunter can play both ways in the NFL

Which position two-way superstar Travis Hunter will ultimately play in the NFL remains a point of contention around the some NFL circles. But at least one head coach has confidence the reigning Heisman Trophy winner can do it all in NFL.

During a Tuesday morning availability at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan — owner of the No. 1 overal pick — believes Hunter can continue to get significant snaps at both cornerback and receiver wherever he lands in the NFL.

“Yeah, it’s very realistic. He’s a unique player that there’s not a whole lot of other players that you can compare to what he’s done,” Callahan said Tuesday, according to JT Ruhnke. “There’s not many guys that have played that many snaps on both sides of the ball. And you watch his tape and you see his ability to play both at a very high level.

“Yeah, I think anybody that you talk to about him is going to say the same thing, that he’s got the ability to play both. And I think you’ll find out where he fits (when) you get him, but he’s got a real unique ability to do a lot of different things.”

Hunter played an eye-popping 1,487 total snaps in 2024, including 103 of a possible 107 total snaps in Colorado’s Alamo Bowl game against Big 12 rival BYU. Despite missing several games with varying injuries, Hunter participated in 2,625 total snaps over his two seasons in Boulder.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner and unanimous All-American was a unicorn in 2024, leading Colorado on both sides of the ball en route to winning an array of individual honors — the Walter Camp (collegiate player of the year), the Bednarik (best defensive player), the Biletnikoff (best receiver), and Hornung (most versatile player) awards, as well as the Lott IMPACT Trophy (top defensive player).

Hunter won the Bilenikoff after hauling in 96 catches for 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns to rank second nationally, finishing with eight 100-yard receiving games, in addition to his four interceptions, 11 passes defended and 36 total tackles as a lock-down cornerback on defense.

Still, there are some like ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. who believe Hunter’s best position is receiver.

“He’s the No. 1 wide receiver,” Kiper said. “Can you imagine if he could have just settled in? If he was just a wide receiver? What would he be? If he was just a corner, what would he be? Being so great at both spots kind of hurts him a little bit.

“You’re not going to be out there fresh every play when you’re playing so many plays and on both sides of the ball with the demands of tackling and covering down the field and preventing touchdowns, and then scoring touchdowns and be able to do things after the catch … Travis Hunter, to me, is the clearly, without any hesitation, by a mile, the best wide receiver in this draft.”

On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.