Travis Hunter may have to play on offense more this season for Colorado football

CBS Sports' Cameron Salerno foresees Travis Hunter playing more on offense during the 2024 season than he did in 2023 with the Colorado football program's loss of Xavier Weaver to the NFL in the offseason.

"While Hunter projects as a cornerback at the next level, he might have to play on offense more than last season," Salerno prefaced before saying, "With leading receiver Xavier Weaver off to the NFL, Hunter should see more involvement as a security blanket and a deep-play threat for Sanders."

Hunter was right behind Jimmy Horn Jr. (58) with 57 catches last year, but Weaver lapped both by double digits (68) in the reception department. Hunter and Horn will both be back and have the most familiarity with Shedeur Sanders, but the need for Hunter to taken on an even bigger role may be overblown; unless Deion Sanders deliberately wants to get Hunter more snaps on the scoring side of the ball to boost his draft stock.

LaJohntay Wester can become Shedeur Sanders' new favorite Colorado football target

Truthfully, the offense may look similar to last year. Florida Atlantic transfer LaJohntay Wester, someone Shedeur personally recruited to Boulder, may just slide into Weaver's WR1 role like he did his No. 10.

During the Black and Gold spring game, Wester had three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown and made spectacular grabs in the same vein as his stud slot predecessor. With Horn, Hunter, and Omarion Miller serving as decoys, Wester can have himself a breakout season on the national stage with the Buffs.

Speaking of decoys, don't rule out Will Sheppard transitioning well from Vanderbilt to Colorado. Sheppard was a game-breaker in Nashville and adds depth to a room that is overflowing with talent this season.

Even with losing Weaver, Coach Prime and Co. did well to reload in a WR room that could find itself at the top of positional power rankings by season's end.