Whether or not they get the opportunity to make him a Bronco is a very different story.
Nonetheless, the two-way collegiate standout provided a very significant rationale for his “wish” to stay in-state if his name is called in the NFL draft. The key is location.
“I wish I could go to the Broncos just to stay in Colorado because so many people welcomed us with open arms and showed us love that we would never have received in any other place,” Hunter told the presenters of the “Kickin’ It with Dee” podcast in an episode published on October 3.
Hunter was the nation’s No. 2 recruit coming out of high school. He broke a 15-year drought by committing to Jackson State, an FCS school, instead of Florida State. He accompanied Buffaloes coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders from JSU to Colorado.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73537392/usa_today_23127623.0.jpg)
Travis Hunter wants to ‘impact’ the community.
The 21-year-old resident of West Palm Beach, Florida, expressed his fondness for his current home and the people around him.
“My neighbours recognize my car in the neighbourhood. So, man, they came over there. But, like, before every game, or before we leave and head to the team hotel, they put a sign in front of my truck,” Hunter explained. “They say, ‘He’s everywhere,’ ‘He’s his,’ and ‘Heisman to his.’ They change it up each game, so I get to see it. That is cool. And then I get the neighborhood’s little kids to come over and ask me to sign things.
“That’s fine because I want to make an influence on this community. They welcomed us in with open arms. So the fan base here is really strong. Probably one of the greatest. When you go out for pregame, there are only around 100 to 130 people there. But when it’s game time, it’s completely crowded. So they show a lot of affection, guy, which I enjoy.”
Hunter said his neighbours “help me out a lot,” including pet sitting while he is abroad.
“Sometimes I go to away games and need someone to monitor my dog. I feel safe going to my neighbours, and they’ll say, ‘Yeah, we’ll watch him for you.’ So they observe. They keep an eye on my house and everything else going on around here because they understand how important I am to the city and the state. So I never feel uneasy or unsafe.”
However, Hunter’s ambitions serve as a wake-up call for the Broncos.
Travis Hunter Could Be Out of Broncos’ Range in the NFL Draft
“I want to be the first pick,” Hunter explained. “I never imagined it until a few years ago, when I realized I had a chance to be the first pick. So that’s been my main goal. I just want to be the first choice. I don’t care where it’s located. “Just get me there.”
Hunter is Pro Football Focus’ top prospect as of October 4.
According to Tankathon, the Broncos would pick No. 18 overall with a 2-2 record. The Broncos still have 15 games on the schedule, however. They could be in Hunter’s range by the end of the season.
Leave a Reply