Jaguars rookie turning heads with jaw-dropping play (and it isn't Travis Hunter)

Two-way star Travis Hunter has turned heads in training camp, but he's not the only rookie who could make an impact for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. During Day 9, linebacker Jack Kiser turned heads with his impressive play.

A fourth-round pick in this year's draft, the former Notre Dame product earned rave reviews for picking off quarterback Nick Mullens and taking it to the house for the team's first defensive touchdown of training camp.

Kiser's impressive performance on Day 9 of training camp led John Shipley of Sports Illustrated to say that he's been the second-most impressive rookie behind Travis Hunter. Here's the skinny.

"While Travis Hunter has clearly been the Jaguars' rookie standout in camp, the second-best rookie has arguably been Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser," Shipley wrote. "Kiser began to stack days earlier in the weeks and then had a strong performance in Friday's scrimmage. On Sunday, he took it to another level with a pick-six of Nick Mullens."

Shipley continued, "Kiser is not pushing for a starting role or anything like that, but over the last week, he has shown up against the run, in coverage, and as a blitzer. It has been a good camp for the Day 3 linebacker, who could see an expanded role in the coming years."

Foyesade Oluokun is slated to start at one linebacker spot. It looks like Devin Lloyd will get the other, but Ventrell Miller could make a bid for him. Third-year pro Yasir Abdullah is also listed as a starter on the team's first unofficial depth chart. But nowadays, teams would rather have a nickel corner on the field rather than a linebacker, so whoever gets the third linebacker spot may not get much playing time in defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's scheme.

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Jack Kiser will need to wait for his chance to start with the Jaguars

That Jack Kiser is thriving isn't particularly surprising. While he isn't great in coverage and lacks elite physical traits, he excelled at trumping the run and bringing the heat during his time with the Fighting Irish. But as John Shipley noted, the Royal Center, Indiana native doesn't have a clear path to the starting lineup. That said, he may end up being the primary backup at linebacker.

Granted, Kiser won't be making a pick-6 on every practice but has probably done enough to pass fellow linebacker Chad Muma on the depth chart. And with both Muma and Devin Lloyd slated to become free agents in 2025, maybe Kiser could compete for a starting job next year.

So far, the new regime has given everyone a chance to make an impression, and Jack Kiser has wasted no time taking advantage of his opportunity. The truth is that linebacker is a strength for the Jaguars in 2025, but if either Foyesade Oluokun or Devin Lloyd has to miss time, he can be pressed into action, and the unit won't miss a beat.

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