Being a top-5 draft pick comes with expectations, and it's no hyperbole to say that all eyes are on Travis Hunter after the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to select him second overall in 2025.
Not only does the reigning Heisman Trophy winner have to live up to his draft billing, but he must also silence naysayers who don't believe he'll be able to play two ways full-time like he did at the collegiate level.
So far, the early signs are positive, and Hunter is trending toward playing corner and receiver as a rookie. Having said that, there's a strong chance he won't do it on a full-time basis, and that's alright.
Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter faces a few hurdles on his quest to playing two-ways
Had Travis Hunter played just one position in college, he might have still been the highest-rated prospect in this year's draft, but he won't let his talent go to waste, and neither will the Jags. Ever since they traded up to take him, they made it clear that they had a plan in place to help him achieve his unwavering goal of playing two ways at the NFL level.
Hunter began his onboarding at receiver, mostly getting reps on offense early in the offseason. But then, he started to line up at corner in mandatory camp. By training camp, the West Palm Beach native was already switching back and forth between offense and defense in the same practice. That continued in the preseason.
This is a long-winded way to say that the Jags have done a good job getting Hunter acclimated — by playing two positions — but he could soon hit a wall.
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Why Travis Hunter will have trouble playing two-ways for the Jaguars
Colorado coach and HOF cornerback Deion Sanders believes that Travis Hunter won't have trouble playing two ways in the pros because of the NFL's slower tempo. Primetime post most definitely has a valid point, but he also fails to take other factors into account.
Sure, offenses in the pros operate a bit slower than their college counterparts. However, Hunter will face faster and stronger players than he ever did in the Big 12. Moreover, NFL schemes are significantly more complex, and if that wasn't enough, suiting up for 17 games will likely take a toll on him.
When you add it all up, the odds of Hunter playing two ways full-time in the NFL aren't particularly high. Does that mean the Jaguars should abandon the plan and limit him to one side of the ball? No, but they'll need to balance his snaps on offense and defense to ensure they get the best out of him without overworking him.
And that's the thing, Hunter may not have a featured role on either offense or defense, but that won't matter if he can make game-altering plays like he did at Colorado in whatever time he gets. The Jaguars probably won't mind that outcome.