Travis Hunter, the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ fresh pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, proudly walked at his University of Colorado graduation ceremony on Thursday, mere weeks after being selected second overall.
Hunter has already captured the hearts of fans with his down-to-earth demeanor and is also hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime talent with aspirations to be the first player in modern NFL history to excel on both sides of the ball. His last year has been nothing short of extraordinary, clinching the Heisman Trophy after an incredible senior season and then inking a rookie deal estimated at a cool $46.5 million.
Despite soaring fame and embarking on a new professional journey, Hunter was spotted among his peers reveling in his academic accomplishment in Boulder, Colorado. “What’s up, Buff Nation? It’s your boy Trav! The boys out here graduating, man!” he exclaimed in a video posted online.
The Buffaloes celebrated their star graduate on their official account, flaunting his success with a caption that read: “GOT THAT DEGREE!” Prior to entering the draft, the dual-threat prodigy disclosed his impressive GPA, achieved while juggling academics and football.
“I think it’s a 3.7 or a 3.9. Something like that,” Hunter remarked during pre-draft festivities. With about half of NFL players holding college degrees as reported by the NFL Players Association, Hunter’s scholastic success is particularly noteworthy for someone with his draft status.
Hunter has achieved a remarkable milestone by earning his anthropology degree, and his academic prowess has also earned him a two-time first-team academic All-American status. Former NFL tight end Nate Jackson took to X to praise Hunter, posing the question: “How many Heisman Trophy winners have their degrees?”
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“Shoot, how many NFL players have them? The answer is: not enough. This shows what a special young man Travis Hunter is. Something tells me this football thing is going to work out for him, but if not, he’ll be just fine.”
Before joining the Jaguars for rookie minicamp, Hunter will celebrate his graduation, gearing up for his inaugural NFL season. Notably, Hunter has expressed a desire to continue playing both as a wide receiver and cornerback, a role he finds effortless due to his extensive experience.
“It’s not as complicated as people may think it is or may make it seem,” Hunter shared with Yahoo Sports. “I’ve been doing it for a long time, so it is super easy for me, super simple.”
His approach to mastering both roles involves intense film study, an endeavor he thoroughly enjoys: “I just go in there and watch a lot of film, study a lot of guys, study a lot of film. I love watching football, so it’s kind of easy for me.”
However, the NFL presents a significant leap from collegiate football, and the Jaguars, though supportive, acknowledge this challenge. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Hunter will initially focus on wide receiver duties before expanding his defensive role during summer training camp.
