Travis Hunter's Former Coach Explains What Patriots Might Be Getting

Assuming they don’t trade down, when the New England Patriots take the podium to announce the fourth overall selection of the 2025 NFL Draft, it very well could be Travis Hunter. 

If he’s still available, that is. 

If two of the top-three selections aren’t quarterbacks, it’s difficult to imagine a Hunter being attainable for New England. However, given the number of teams hungry for a franchise passer, the Patriots could see the Colorado Buffalo fall to No. 4. 

Putting aside all of his accolades prior to the end of his final collegiate season, if you aren’t already familiar with Hunter’s talent, the two-way phenom won the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp Award, the Fred Biletnikoff Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lott Trophy, his second Paul Hornung Award, he was a Unanimous All-American, and both the Associated Press and Sporting News named Hunter the College Football Player of the Year. 

There are additional awards to rattle off, but you get the point. 

For Lenny Gregory, he watched it unfold from up close and then from afar. 

Gregory was his varsity head coach from 2018 through 2021. He first came across Hunter when he arrived at Collins Hill High School in Georgia after relocating from Florida in the summer before his freshman year. 

On SI connected with Coach Gregory this week for a look back to the rise of one of the most special college football players of the last decade, and a potential early-first-round selection for the Patriots.