NEW YORK — Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner known for his exceptional talent on both offense and defense while playing for Colorado, has been officially recognized as a defensive back for the upcoming NFL scouting combine.

The NFL announced the names of 329 invited players for the combine, taking place in Indianapolis from February 24 to March 3.

Hunter is often hailed as one of the finest two-way college athletes of the modern era, especially as college football has seen a decline in the use of such versatile players since the 1940s. He earned multiple accolades on the 2024 Associated Press All-America team, being named a first-team cornerback and all-purpose player, along with a second-team receiver.

Despite Hunter’s ambition to showcase his skills on both sides of the ball in the NFL, his designation as a defensive back suggests that scouts envision him primarily filling that role at the professional level.

In the previous season, he recorded impressive statistics, tallying four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and 36 tackles, with one being a tackle for loss. As a receiver, he made 96 receptions for 1,258 yards, along with 15 receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

Travis Hunter’s college coach, Deion Sanders, is a notable figure in NFL history, recognized as one of the best defensive backs to ever play the game. Interestingly, Sanders also had a stint as a receiver; during his time with the Dallas Cowboys in 1996, he caught 36 passes for 475 yards and scored a touchdown.