Travis Hunter recruitment revisited: How top NFL Draft prospect wound up at FCS Jackson State despite No. 1 ranking

Daniel Chavkin

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Travis Hunter recruitment revisited: How top NFL Draft prospect wound up at FCS Jackson State despite No. 1 ranking image

Travis Hunter's college journey was long and winding, as it involved three different schools over a four-year period.

While Hunter finished his career at Colorado, he began his college life at Jackson State alongside head coach Deion Sanders. Hunter initially committed to Florida State but flipped to Jackson State after a visit to the Tigers' campus changed his mind.

Now, Hunter is a rising star in football and could become one of the best players to ever play for Jackson State. Here's a breakdown of the visit that convinced Hunter to sign with Jackson State.

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Travis Hunter Jackson State recruitment

In the fall of 2021, Hunter was committed to Florida State as the No. 1 recruit in the country, per 247 Sports. However, Hunter still visited Jackson State a month before National Signing Day.

At the time, Deion Sanders was in his first season as Jackson State's head coach and was looking to make a splash on the recruiting trail. Hunter, a two-way player from Suwannee, Georgia, represented the type of player that would make a statement.

Hunter visited late during the season, allowing him to see Jackson State take on Alcorn State at home. Jackson State went on to win that game, which clinched the team a spot in the SWAC championship game.

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Once Sanders got Hunter on campus, he convinced the recruit that attending an HBCU was the right way to represent African Americans in the sport.

"Coach Prime changed my mind,” Hunter said on 60 Minutes, via the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. "He let me know how big of an impact I can have on the people, and that is one of the things I wanted — to shine the light on our people and shine the light on HBCUs."

However, the visit was about more than just football. Sanders and Hunter bonded over many things, including fishing. Even after the visit ended, the two would text each other about fishing.

"We know it was about football, but we didn't keep that the main focus," Hunter said, via Andscape. "We like to fish. We'd send pictures to each other. I'm a straight bass fisherman."

Sanders was also able to win over Hunter's mother, Ferrante Edmonds, who appreciated the way the Jackson State head coach approached coaching and life, in general.

In the end, Sanders told Hunter how much of an impact he could make if he chose to sign with Jackson State. Hunter expanded on that part of his visit while on The Pivot Podcast ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

"We had that conversation with whether I was gonna go or stay with Florida State," Travis Hunter said. "He let me know he wanted me. It's like, going to be a big impact but you're a humble kid and we know you can take on whatever comes your way. So, it's your choice to make."

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Travis Hunter Jackson State stats

In his lone season at Jackson State, Hunter flashed the star power that would make him an eventual Heisman Trophy winner. Here's a look at his stats from the 2022 season.

  • Receptions:18
  • Receiving Yards: 190
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 4
  • Tackles: 19
  • Passes Defended: 8
  • Interceptions: 2
  • Pick-Sixes: 1

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Daniel Chavkin

Daniel Chavkin is a Digital Content Producer for The Sporting News. A 2018 graduate from the University of Maryland, he has previously written for Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports and NFLTradeRumors.com.