High school football: Travis Hunter joins list of greatest two-way players along with Dick Butkus, Deion Sanders and Charles Woodson

Hunter's workload has shifted toward cornerback this season but appearances at wide receiver keep him part of an increasingly rare two-way breed.

Playing both ways was nothing new for Hunter when he arrived in Jacksonville. At Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.), he caught 272 passes for 3,963 yards and 48 touchdowns while intercepting 19 passes on defense. There was a time when staying on the field after a change of possession came with the uniform. Separate offensive and defensive units eventually made football a game of specialists, but the two-way tradition still has a home on Friday nights.

Before becoming legendary NFL defenders, Dick Butkus earned all-state honors at fullback, Julius Peppers piled up rushing yards and defensive backs Ronnie Lott, Deion Sanders and Ed Reed all played quarterback.

Hunter joins those legends on our list of the top 25 greatest two-way players in high school football history. Presented in alphabetical order, the selections span generations of stars who gave their coaches two good reasons to keep them in the game.

Greatest two-way players

Harry Agganis
High school: Lynn Classical (Lynn, Mass.)
Offensive highlights: Selected as the national player of the year at quarterback on the Wigwam Wiseman All-American team.
Defensive highlights: Played defensive back while also quarterbacking, kicking and punting.
After high school: Became a standout quarterback and defensive back at Boston University where he was MVP of the Shrine Game, chosen in the first round of the NFL draft and also broke a NCAA record with 15 interceptions on defense. Chose professional baseball and played first base for the Boston Red Sox before his death in 1955.

Eric Allen
High school: Point Loma (San Diego, Calif.)
Offensive highlights: As a running back, Allen helped Point Loma share the 1982 San Diego Section Class 2A championship.
Defensive highlights: Earned all-county recognition at defensive back.
After high school: Played at Arizona State before a 14-year NFL career. Earned six Pro Bowl selections and intercepted 54 passes.

Sammy Baugh
High school: Sweetwater (Texas), previously attended Temple (Texas)
Offensive highlights: Excelled as a passing back and punter, leading Sweetwater to an 8–1 record and bi-district championship in 1932.
Defensive highlights: His later defensive accomplishments are well documented, but high school defensive honors or statistical totals could not be verified. His high school hall of fame biography chiefly emphasizes quarterback play and punting.
After high school: Became an All-American at TCU and revolutionized professional passing with Washington. Won two NFL championships and famously led the league in passing, punting and interceptions in 1943.

Dick Butkus
High school: Chicago Vocational (Chicago, Ill.)
Offensive highlights: Earned all-state recognition at fullback and handled kicking duties.
Defensive highlights: Starred at linebacker and received high school player of the year honors as a junior.
After high school: Became a two-time All-American at Illinois and earned eight Pro Bowl selections with the Chicago Bears.

Earl Campbell
High school: Tyler (Texas)
Offensive highlights: Led the Lions to a 15–0 record and the 1973 Class 4A state championship. Rushed for 2,036 yards including 200 in the championship game.
Defensive highlights: Established himself as a standout middle linebacker before his offensive breakthrough, earning All-East Texas honors at linebacker as a sophomore and junior.
After high school: Won the 1977 Heisman Trophy at Texas. Became a franchise player at running back for the Houston Oilers, earning NFL MVP honors, three consecutive rushing titles and Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.

George Connor
High school: De La Salle (Chicago, Ill.)
Offensive highlights: Starred at tackle, earning league, city and state honors.
Defensive highlights: Also played linebacker, although all-state teams did not recognize defensive players when Connor played in the 1940s.
After high school: Earned NFL honors at offensive tackle, defensive tackle and linebacker before entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Dwight Freeney
High school: Bloomfield (Conn.)
Offensive highlights: Started at tight end as part of his two-way workload and had several touchdown catches during the postseason his senior year.
Defensive highlights: Finished with 249 tackles and a then-state record 60 sacks.
After high school: Won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis and recorded 125.5 NFL sacks.

Ted Ginn Jr.
High school: Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)
Offensive highlights: Played quarterback and other offensive positions for his father, Ted Ginn Sr. Rushed for 850 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior in 2003.
Defensive highlights: Intercepted eight passes that season and returned five for touchdowns.
After high school: Became an explosive receiver and returner at Ohio State. Selected ninth overall in the 2007 NFL Draft and played 14 seasons in the NFL.

Devin Hester
High school: Suncoast (Riviera Beach, Fla.)
Offensive highlights: Played running back and receiver, piling up 1,014 rushing yards and 1,028 receiving yards as a senior.
Defensive highlights: Finished with 156 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while earning all-state honors.
After high school: Became the NFL's career leader in combined kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns.

Travis Hunter
High school: Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.)
Offensive highlights: Finished with 272 receptions for 3,963 yards and a then-Georgia-record 48 receiving touchdowns.
Defensive highlights: Recorded 116 tackles, 19 interceptions and 18 pass breakups during his high school career.
After high school: Played at Jackson State and Colorado. Won the 2024 Heisman Trophy and selected second overall by Jacksonville in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ronnie Lott
High school: Eisenhower (Rialto, Calif.)
Offensive highlights: Named a Parade All-American as a receiver but actually played quarterback most of the season, throwing for 596 yards and rushing for 645 yards.
Defensive highlights: Excelled at safety and earned All-Southern Section Division I defensive back recognition in 1976. Had three interceptions in a win over Fontana.
After high school: Became an All-American at USC and a cornerstone of San Francisco's dynasty, winning four Super Bowls. Earned 10 Pro Bowl selections and induction into both the College and Pro Football halls of fame.

John Lynch
High school: Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.)
Offensive highlights: Passed for 1,292 yards and rushed for 542 as a junior.
Defensive highlights: Started at linebacker as a sophomore before concentrating on quarterback. He missed most of his senior year due to injury
After high school: Played football and baseball at Stanford before becoming an NFL safety. Earned nine Pro Bowl selections.

Lenny Moore
High school: Reading (Pa.)
Offensive highlights: Excelled at halfback, earning the nickname "The Reading Rambler" for his open-field ability.
Defensive highlights: Also played defensive back for the Red Knights.
After high school: Became Penn State's career rushing leader. Starred as a runner and receiver for Baltimore, earning seven Pro Bowl selections.

Bronko Nagurski
High school: International Falls (Minn.), previously attended Bemidji
Offensive highlights: Carried the ball as a powerful back.
Defensive highlights: Played on the line and at linebacker on defense.
After high school: Earned All-American recognition at fullback and tackle at Minnesota. Became a legend with the Chicago Bears and was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Julius Peppers
High school: Southern Nash (Bailey, N.C.)
Offensive highlights: Rushed for 3,501 career yards while playing running back. Was his football team's MVP for three consecutive seasons.
Defensive highlights: Played defensive end, earned all-state recognition and became a first team Parade All-American in 1997.
After high school: Played football and basketball at North Carolina. Recorded 159.5 NFL sacks and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

Ed Reed
High school: Destrehan (La.)
Offensive highlights: Started as the varsity quarterback as a sophomore and junior before moving to the defensive side of the ball.
Defensive highlights: Recorded 83 tackles, seven interceptions, 12 pass breakups and three forced fumbles as a senior.
After high school: Became an All-American and national champion at Miami. Earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Mel Renfro
High school: Jefferson (Portland, Ore.)
Offensive highlights: Played halfback alongside Terry Baker on Jefferson's celebrated championship teams and later took snaps at quarterback as a senior.
Defensive highlights: Played defensive back as part of his two-way role.
After high school: Starred in football and track at Oregon. Became a 10-time Pro Bowl defensive back, two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer with the Dallas Cowboys.

Deion Sanders
High school: North Fort Myers (Fla.)
Offensive highlights: Played quarterback, using his speed in an option offense before becoming primarily a defensive back in college. Threw for 839 yards as a senior.
Defensive highlights: Starred at cornerback, earned all-state football recognition and was selected for the inaugural Florida–Georgia All-Star Game in 1985. Intercepted four passes his senior year.
After high school: Became a two-time All-American at Florida State. Won two Super Bowls, earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame..

Steve Smith Sr.
High school: University (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Offensive highlights: Played running back and earned All-Metro League and All-Los Angeles City Section recognition.
Defensive highlights: Played defensive back for the Class 3A school.
After high school: Played at Santa Monica College and Utah. Became a five-time Pro Bowl receiver with Carolina and Baltimore, finished with 14,731 receiving yards.

Terrell Suggs
High school: Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), previously attended Chandler
Offensive highlights: Rushed for 2,274 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior. Earned first team all-state recognition.
Defensive highlights: Played linebacker at Chandler before transferring.
After high school: Earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors and won Super Bowls with Baltimore and Kansas City.

Brian Urlacher
High school: Lovington (N.M.)
Offensive highlights: Helped Lovington finish 14–0 and win the 1995 Class 3A championship. Caught two touchdown passes in the championship game.
Defensive highlights: Added two interceptions and forced two fumbles in that same final.
After high school: Became an All-American at New Mexico. Earned Defensive Player of the Year honors with Chicago, made eight Pro Bowls and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Patrick Willis
High school: Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central (Bruceton, Tenn.)
Offensive highlights: Played wide receiver and caught 30 passes for 529 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior.
Defensive highlights: As a linebacker, Willis earned all-state honors with 155 tackles, four sacks, 18 tackles for loss and three interceptions.
After high school: Became a seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker and a five-time first-team All-Pro with San Francisco.

Charles Woodson
High school: Ross (Fremont, Ohio)
Offensive highlights: Won Ohio's Mr. Football award in 1994 after rushing for 2,028 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Defensive highlights: Played defensive back where he earned all-state honors as a sophomore.
After high school: Won the 1997 Heisman Trophy and helped Michigan win a national championship. Became an NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Darren Woodson
High school: Maryvale (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Offensive highlights: Earned first team All-Metro recognition at running back.
Defensive highlights: Earned first team All-Metro at linebacker.
After high school: Won three Super Bowls, earned five Pro Bowl selections and became the career tackles leader for the Dallas Cowboys.

Rod Woodson
High school: Fort Wayne Snider (Ind.)
Offensive highlights: Played slotback, averaging approximately 11 yards per carry as a senior and earning all-state recognition at that position.
Defensive highlights: Earned all-state defensive back honors twice and became a Parade All-American.
After high school: Became an All-American at Purdue, NFL Defensive Player of the Year and an 11-time Pro Bowl selection.