There may be not a extra intriguing participant going into Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season than Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter. Not solely was Hunter the No. 2 choose within the draft, however his potential to play each side of the ball, and the way the Jaguars use that distinctive ability set, goes to be an enchanting storyline to look at unfold.
Based on ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday night, we’ve some concept as to how the Jaguars are going to make the most of Hunter in Week 1 in opposition to the Carolina Panthers.
Anticipate to see Travis Hunter extra on offense
Based on Schefter, the Jaguars’ plan for Week 1 is for Hunter to be an every-down huge receiver and a situational cornerback. That is in keeping with Jacksonville’s preliminary depth chart that had him listed as a beginning huge receiver and a backup cornerback.
Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, was a full-time participant at each huge receiver and cornerback over his two full seasons on the University of Colorado and was an impression participant at each. If he can come near matching that within the NFL, it could make him an awfully helpful participant as a result of he would principally be two star gamers in a single. No one else within the NFL is able to doing that.
The large unanswered query with Hunter is whether or not or not he can keep that very same form of workload within the NFL. Since 1980, solely three gamers have ever began on each offense and protection within the NFL in the identical sport. That checklist options solely Deion Sanders (Hunter’s school coach), Champ Bailey and Antonio Cromartie.
Hunter solely performed in a single preseason sport and missed a handful of practices early on attributable to harm, however his snaps within the coaching camp and preseason sport he did play have been practically 50-50 when it comes to offense and protection.
Travis Hunter’s position will possible change and evolve every week
Despite the fact that Hunter’s position for Sunday seems to have him focusing extra on offense, Schefter additionally reviews that the Jaguars will change issues up with him every week and will even have some video games the place he’s a full-time participant on each side of the ball.
That could be a demanding ask for any participant on the NFL degree, and it could be unprecedented even among the many different gamers who briefly performed each side of the ball. Sanders, Bailey and Cromartie have been nonetheless primarily defensive gamers and solely acquired restricted snaps on offense once they performed each methods. The expectation for Hunter is clearly far greater.
