The First NFL Draft with a Two-Way Prodigy: Hunter Hunt at the Tevatron (the Titans vs. Ward)

It’s been decades since the NFL had a true two-way player, in the style of baseball’s Shohei Ohtani — someone who plays a big role on the team on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

It’s still an open question how Hunter — who excelled in college at both wide receiver and cornerback — might be deployed in the NFL. He is the best player available in a draft with a lot of other blue chip prospects, including Abdul Carter and Ashton Jeanty, who are both from Penn State.

This year there is no competition for quarterbacks who are ready for the NFL. The QB-needy Tennessee Titans have the No. 1 overall pick, and barring a stunner trade, they seem likely to use it in hopes that Ward is their quarterback of the future.

This year’s NFL Draft is being held in Green Bay, Wis. The first round will be held Thursday night at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Rounds 2 and 3 follow on Friday evening, and the final four rounds take place Saturday. The draft will be broadcasted on a number of TV channels.

Two Positions: Travis Hunter at Colorado and Deion Sanders at CB/WR for the Cleveland Browns and he’ll be a unicorn

That’s right, two positions. Travis Hunter’s remarkable run at Colorado included playing a majority of the team’s snaps on both offense and defense. His receiving yards were fifth highest in the highest-level of college football and he’s a genuine talent. His 15 touchdown performance was good for second. He got four picks on defense.

Before the Super Bowl era, there were two-way starters in the earliest days of the league. Some defenders play occasionally on offense and end-zone plays.

Only one football player in the past 45 years has started at both CB andWR in the same game multiple times, and that is All-Pro Deion Sanders. For the whole season, Sanders pursued two-way play. Otherwise, he was predominantly a defender. Hunter is the head coach at Colorado.

Andrew Berry, the general manger of the Cleveland Browns, told reporters last week that it would be a bit like Ohtani if he was a pitcher or a hitter. If you use him both ways, you will get a unicorn.

The Rise of Cam Ward: Running RBs in the NFL when running backs start to run the football, or why a running back is so hot in high drafts

After two years at Incarnate Word, Cam Ward transferred to Washington State. After the 2023 season, he considered entering the NFL Draft. Ward decided to transfer to Miami because he felt he could get a better education there, despite the fact that the class was loaded with top-tier QB prospects (including all of whom ended their rookies seasons as starter on their teams).

The best player on the Penn State football team, Abdul Carter, had to leave the team’s playoff victory over Boise State because of a shoulder injury. Penn State fans worried: Would their team’s dominant defensive end miss the semifinal against Notre Dame?

He looks like the top pass-rusher going into the draft. Carter could change the complexion of the game if he goes No. 2 or the New York Giants end up No. 3.

A close second to Travis Hunter in the vote for the Heisman Trophy was Ashton Jeanty, the powerhouse running back at Boise State. When Jeanty came within 28 yards of the long-standing single-season rushing record, there was a lot of excitement.

He’s fast. He’s not going to be hurt by would-be tacklers. He has excellent vision and patience as a back. He delighted in highlight after highlight — shedding tackles, pushing through contact, and breaking free for 50-yard-plus touchdowns, one after the other. He had 29 touchdown runs and 2,603.50 yards in his last season at Boise State, almost 900 more than the next-closest collegiate runner.

He came to the NFL as running backs are making a comeback. It has been thought for the past decade or so that it is not a good idea to use a high draft pick on running backs because they are often short-lived and easy to replace.

But RBs are so back. Last year, the addition of Saquon Barkley turbocharged the Philadelphia Eagles offense and was a major factor in their Super Bowl run. The formula used by that team is likely to be repeated by other teams. It’s not the first time a running back has been drafted that high, it’s only the second time.

Josh Simmons, an Ohio State offensive tackle, was the final pick by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Deion Sanders’ Son is Still Waiting: Nolen, Stewart, Larimer and the Giants: The New York Giants Draft Came Forward to Carson Hunter, Vezina Abdul-Carter Jargues Trade

“We all didn’t think this would happen, but I feel like with God, anything is possible, everything’s possible,” he said at his draft party. I do not think this occurred for no reason. It is fuel to the fire. Under no circumstance, we all know this shouldn’t have happened, but we understand we’re on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow is the day. We’re going to be happy, that’s all.

Sanders was passed over by every team that had a need for a potential franchise quarterback, even though some draft analysts had him rated higher than Ward. The New York Giants had two chances to take Colorado defensive end Noah Carter, who starred for their coach Deion Sanders, and they chose to take one of them.

The Giants moved back into the first round in hopes that Dart will provide the same type of quarterbacking experience as Eli Manning did for them.

“I’m super excited to go home,” said Hunter, whose hometown is Boynton Beach, Florida. They gave up a lot. It means that they are behind me.

Walter Nolen of Mississippi was selected by the Arizona Cardinals while Shemar Stewart of Texas A&M was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengalles.

The Texas offensive tackle was chosen by the New Orleans Saints. The Chicago Bears selected Colston Larimer with the 10th pick, making him the first tight end off the board.

The draft was held next to Lambeau Field for the first time, and Ward’s name was announced by the Commissioner. The NFL’s smallest market is hosting the league’s biggest offseason event as thousands of fans from across the country traveled to Titletown for the festivities.

The stage had several famous faces on it including Clay Matthews, Mason Crosby, Ahman Green and James Jones, as well as hip hop star and Green Bay superfan,Lil Wayne.

Source: Quarterbacks are the top two NFL Draft picks, but Deion Sanders’ son is still waiting

The Jacksonville Jaguars Picked Hunter to Lead the State of the NFL. The Jaguars drafted Hunter in the Fourth and Sixth Rounds

“Everything that I went through, not a lot of people went through the process from high school to this point can make it to this level and continue to have the same work ethic since day one, but I had God by my side and if you have that, the rest takes care of itself,” Ward said.

Ward led the country with 39 touchdown passes and finished second with 4,313 yards passing while leading the Hurricanes to a 10-3 record. Ward completed 67.2% of his passes.

The Browns got Jacksonville’s first-round pick (No. 5), picks Nos. 36 and 126, and a first-rounder in 2026 to trade down and clear the way for the Jaguars to pick Hunter. The Jags received picks in the fourth and sixth rounds.

Hunter wore a pink blazer and flashed a big smile after he was selected by the Jacksonville team, even though he hadn’t spoken to them since the scouting combine. He caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdown while making 35 tackles and picking off four.

Matthew Golden was taken by the Packers with the 23rd pick. Golden was selected in the first round by Green Bay.

The Washington Commanders drafted Josh Conerly Jr. at the 29th spot, and the Buffalo Bills drafted Maxwell Hairston at 30th.