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What Mike Vrabel Told Travis Hunter At The Nfl Scouting Combine

Bonisiwe Shabane
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what mike vrabel told travis hunter at the nfl scouting combine

Updated on: February 28, 2025 / 8:56 AM EST / CBS Boston When the New England Patriots met with two-way star Travis Hunter at the NFL Scouting Combine this week, head coach Mike Vrabel made sure the 21-year-old got a bit of a history lesson about... In typical Vrabel fashion, he did so by talking some trash. There is a growing sentiment that Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy after a dynamic season as a star receiver and corner for the Colorado Buffalos, could fall to New England at fourth overall... He's listed as a defensive back at the Combine, but given his explosiveness on the offensive side of the ball, he should also get some looks at receiver at the pro level. Vrabel knows a thing or two about bringing it on both offense and defense.

While the former linebacker didn't play as much offense as Hunter, Vrabel was a touchdown machine for the Patriots in the red zone, catching a dozen touchdowns over his career. He made sure Hunter knew about those catches when the Patriots met with the two-way star in Indianapolis. New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and top draft prospect Travis Hunter had some fun jawing back and forth about life as a two-way player. Sure, Hunter played both wide receiver and cornerback throughout his collegiate career, but Vrabel knows a thing or two about playing on offense and defense as well. The three-time Super Bowl champion was mostly known for being a former All-Pro linebacker in the NFL, but he also caught 10 touchdown passes. "I'm sure Travis doesn't even know, but we were kind of jawing back and forth as he left last night.

And I said, 'You're not the only one that played two ways. There were some other guys that did this too,'" Vrabel said on NFL Network. "He kind of like looked at me, and we laughed." Hunter could potentially fall to the Patriots at No. 4 on the 2025 NFL draft board. They need help at both cornerback and receiver, and the Heisman Trophy winner is a rare player who would be a major addition to the roster.

He could boost the Patriots' struggling receiving corps, or he could serve as a dominalnt one-two punch in the defensive backfield with All-Pro corner Christian Gonzalez. Travis Hunter has cemented himself as one of the most unique and dynamic prospects in NFL Draft history. The Colorado star achieved something never before seen at the collegiate level, excelling as both a wide receiver and a cornerback. His historic season earned him the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver, the Chuck Bednarik Award as the country’s top defensive player, and the ultimate individual honor—the Heisman Trophy. Now, as he prepares for the NFL, all eyes are on how his next team will utilize his extraordinary skill set. Hunter has made it clear that he wants to continue playing both ways at the professional level, something rarely seen in today’s NFL.

While challenging, it isn’t entirely unprecedented. Vrabes knows a thing or two about playing offense and defense 🤣📺: #NFLCombine on NFLN pic.twitter.com/Hsdzk4dXNY During the NFL Scouting Combine, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel reminded Hunter that he himself played both ways during his career, catching 12 touchdown passes as a linebacker-turned-tight end in goal-line situations. While Hunter’s ambitions are far more extensive, the anecdote underscores how rare and special his talent is. New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is well-known for the trash talk he unleashed both as a player and a coach. Vrabel would even chirp Tom Brady on the practice field during their time together as teammates with the Patriots.

So when Vrabel met face-to-face with top NFL draft prospect Travis Hunter on Wednesday night, he had no problem doling out a joke at the Heisman Trophy winner’s expense. “I’m sure Travis doesn’t even know, but we were kind of jawing back-and-forth as he left last night and I said, ‘You’re not the only one that played two ways. There were some other guys that did this, too,'” Vrabel said on the NFL Network Combine broadcast Thursday, per team-provided video. “And he kind of looked at me and we laughed.” Vrabel, of course, is one of those players who suited up on both sides of the football during his 14-year NFL playing career. Send this article to your social connections.

Send this article to your social connections. Few NFL prospects have generated more hype in recent years than Travis Hunter. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is expected to go off the board early in the 2025 NFL Draft due in large part to his unique profile as both a shutdown cornerback and dynamic wide... Hunter stuffed the stat sheet on both sides of the ball this past season with Colorado — winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the top collegiate wide receiver after reeling in 96 catches for... Like just about every other team in the NFL, the New England Patriots are interested in drafting Travis Hunter. But unlike 28 of the 32 other teams, the Patriots own the fourth overall pick, and Hunter falling to No.

4 is a possibility. While speaking with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine this week, new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the team met with Hunter, and he shared a fun snippet from their conversation. “We were kind of jawing back and forth as he left last night,” Vrabel said, via NFL Network. “And I said: ‘You’re not the only one that played two-way. There were some other guys that did this, too.’ And he kind of looked at me and he laughed.” Vrabel was referencing, of course, his limited-yet-effective snaps on the offensive side of the ball during his playing days.

Despite being a full-time linebacker, Vrabel had 10 career receptions, all for touchdowns. These weren’t just throwaway scores in meaningless games, either. Many of them came in high-stakes playoff games and Super Bowls. What Boston really cares about right now. "You’re not the only one that played two-way. There were some other guys that did this, too."

Few NFL prospects have generated more hype in recent years than Travis Hunter. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is expected to go off the board early in the 2025 NFL Draft due in large part to his unique profile as both a shutdown cornerback and dynamic wide... Hunter stuffed the stat sheet on both sides of the ball this past season with Colorado — winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the top collegiate wide receiver after reeling in 96 catches for...

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Updated on: February 28, 2025 / 8:56 AM EST / CBS Boston When the New England Patriots met with two-way star Travis Hunter at the NFL Scouting Combine this week, head coach Mike Vrabel made sure the 21-year-old got a bit of a history lesson about... In typical Vrabel fashion, he did so by talking some trash. There is a growing sentiment that Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy after a dynamic seaso...

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