When Travis Hunter was in high school, he was like nothing else ever seen in Rivals’ history dating back two decades.

The freak athleticism was apparent. He moved around the field like he was on a pogo stick covering so much ground so quickly, never wanting to leave the field. He’s always looking to contribute, do something, on offense and defense.

He might get that chance now on the biggest stage.

“It’s very realistic,” said Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan at the NFL Combine of Hunter playing both ways in the NFL.

It sounds so preposterous now considering Hunter was the No. 1 overall player in the 2022 class and Heisman Trophy winner, but he emerged as a national prospect far from the limelight.

MORE GORNEY: Ranking the 10 biggest decommitments in 2026 so far

CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker

It happened during COVID at the Pylon tournament in dusty Bullhead City, Ariz., well off the beaten path of college football stardom. The five-star showed up on a loaded Fast Houston team and completely dominated. He played receiver, he played defensive back and he was just … different. Unleashed, freaky good.

There were a lot of fast players on the field that night. Hunter was faster. There were a lot of skilled players at that tournament. Hunter was just better.

And that never changed.

Every event Hunter attended, he dominated. He was more athletic than anybody at the same stage. And that passion for being on the field – whether it was in Bullhead City or the Steve Clarkson QB Retreat or the Rivals Camp in Atlanta or the Under Armour Game or the Polynesian Bowl – it never stopped.

And now NFL decision-makers are having a very serious conversation about whether Hunter could legitimately play both ways in the NFL, something that is almost anathema for anyone else.

“In terms of Travis Hunter, is he a cornerback or a receiver, the answer is yes,” Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said at the combine. “He can play both and that’s what makes him special. We would see him primarily as a receiver first but what makes him a bit of a unicorn is that he can do both at a high level.”

At cornerback, Michigan’s Will Johnson would be Hunter’s main competition for No. 1. At receiver, it would be Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan or Missouri’s Luther Burden.

This season, Hunter had 12 more catches than McMillan, only 61 fewer yards and seven more touchdowns. Hunter absolutely annihilated Burden’s stats this season.

Perhaps at the combine with agents and business managers in his ear, Hunter pulls it back and doesn’t work out with the receivers and the defensive backs (he’s been invited to both days).

That would be unfortunate because it would be so unlike him.

“We have to assign him to a group and the defensive backs come first,” NFL Football Scouting president Jeff Foster told The AP. “We made him the offer to stay overnight and work with the receivers, so we are projecting him as a defensive back and a wide receiver.”

Knowing Hunter’s history, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him work out both days. And dominate every drill just like every other event throughout his career that in some ways has only just begun.

“He’s a unique player that there aren’t a whole lot of other players that you can compare what he’s done," Callahan said. "There aren’t many guys who have played that many snaps on both sides of the ball.

“You watch his tape and you see his ability to play both at a very high level. Anybody you talk to about him will say the same thing that he has the ability to play both and you’ll find out where he fits if you get him.”