2024 Heisman Trophy winner: Travis Hunter, WR/CB – Colorado Buffaloes
Travis Hunter took home the Heisman Trophy in 2024 beating out Ashton Jeanty and Dillon Gabriel. The two-way star was one of the top wide receivers in the nation and proved to be an elite cornerback for the Colorado Buffaloes in 2024. The highlights and production led to him being drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With speculation wild over which position Hunter would play in the NFL, the Jaguars used him primarily as a wide receiver. While he struggled to find his niche on either side of the ball, Hunter did show flashes as a receiver with 28 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown before going down with a season ending injury.
While he has not been the best rookie in the 2025 NFL Draft, there is still hope Hunter will return in his second season with a bigger impact. The Jaguars will plan to use him as a top wide receiver and a matchup cornerback in 2026.
In all, the previous Heisman Trophy winners have yet to hit their prime in the NFL. With where each Heisman winner was selected, it’s a good bet Fernando Mendoza will be a top 5 pick at the very least and he will have a chance to make his mark Day 1 for whichever team he is drafted.