Coming off a 4-13 record in 2024,
Jacksonville knew the
Jaguars needed more than raw talent. They needed identity. To build it, they placed their bet on rookie
Travis Hunter, the second overall pick in the Draft, arriving with one big goal: to play on both sides of the ball in today’s
NFL.
Travis Hunter isn’t just looking to stand out—he wants to do it as both a wide receiver and a cornerback
. That’s something no player has consistently accomplished in the
NFL since the 1960s. At the college level, his resume with the
Colorado Buffaloes was nothing short of impressive. According to data from
Essentiallysports, the standout averaged over 100 plays per game, led the team in receiving yards, and even earned a
Heisman Trophy. With credentials like that, Travis Hunter caught the attention of the entire league. But the leap to the
NFL is a whole different story.
Two sides of the ball
In Jacksonville,
Travis Hunter has been following a preseason program built to divide his physical workload between offense and defense. During minicamp, he trained in each role separately, but when
training camp begins, both sides of his game will merge into the same sessions. Reporters and analysts agree: the demands will be enormous. Hunter will study two playbooks, switch roles mid-session, and execute with precision against opponents who won’t let up.
To his credit, Travis Hunter has earned strong support from veteran Josh Hines-Allen, one of the league’s top pass rushers. Though Hines-Allen battles his own frustrations—most notably being snubbed from ESPN’s edge rusher rankings—he’s been vocal about Hunter’s potential. “He’s got the spark, the energy. He can do it,” he said confidently. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence backed him up even more firmly, praising Hunter’s work ethic: “He’s one of the hardest workers we’ve got. He has a lot to learn, but he’s putting in the effort.”
All-in on Travis Hunter
The commitment to Travis Hunter goes far beyond spectacle. With a defense in need of stability and an offense with visible gaps, his versatility could be the spark that shifts everything.
General manager James Gladstone was clear: “Depending on the matchup, he can fit wherever we need him.” That makes Travis Hunter a multi-threat weapon—and a highly valuable asset for the franchise.
If Travis Hunter succeeds in pulling off this two-way experiment, he won’t just make history—he’ll reshape how we define a rookie’s role in the NFL. And in Jacksonville, where everything once felt stalled, that sounds like a full-blown revolution.
