NFL teams got a chance to assess the best of this year’s draft prospects over the weekend at the Scouting Combine.
Although Hunter chose not to take part in any of the drills, he spoke to team officials and the media, making it clear he wants to keep playing full-time on offence and defence.
Last season he played all 13 of Colorado’s games, claiming four interceptions and 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns. He played 714 (87%) of their offensive snaps and 748 (83%) of their defensive.
But few have played both regularly in the NFL. Chuck Bednarik is the last true two-way player, having played centre and linebacker for Philadelphia from 1949-56.
Since 2006, Patrick Ricard is one of six players to have played 200 offensive and 200 defensive snaps, but the Baltimore full-back has seldom played on defence since 2019.
William ‘the Refrigerator’ Perry, Troy Brown, Mike Vrabel and Julian Edelman also played both, but none did both regularly in the same season, as Sanders did with the Dallas Cowboys in 1996.
After being drafted, Woodson played almost entirely on defence, and Sanders has told teams not to draft Hunter if they do not plan on giving him the chance to play both.
“They say nobody has ever done it the way I do it, but I tell them I’m just different,” said Hunter.