Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter goes to be one of many must-see tales within the NFL this season as he makes an attempt to play each side of the ball. It may be a frightening activity within the NFL, however he acquired his first style of it on Saturday evening within the crew’s preseason opener towards the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hunter lined up as each a large receiver and cornerback — simply as he did all through his school profession — and produced some combined outcomes.
Offensively, he lined up for 9 snaps on the crew’s opening drive and caught two passes (on two targets) for 9 yards, together with a six-yard catch that got here up only one yard in need of the first-down line on a third-down play.
The Jaguars’ first-team offense was going up towards a lineup that includes largely Steelers backups, and their sport plan appeared to focus extra on short-quick passes than something that might permit Hunter to get downfield or make any large performs.
Defensively, Hunter lined up for 5 snaps at cornerback and didn’t have any passes go in his route, whereas he additionally missed a possible deal with on a working play.
Hunter was among the finest gamers in school soccer over the earlier two seasons, taking part in each cornerback and extensive receiver at an exceptionally excessive degree. It was not unusual for him to play over 100 snaps in a sport. That efficiency resulted in him being the No. 2 general choose within the 2025 NFL Draft class (with Jacksonville buying and selling as much as get him). He has each intention of taking part in each side of the ball within the NFL, and the Jaguars appear inclined to let him attempt.
It isn’t going to be simple, although.
There’s a large distinction in pace and physicality (to not point out high quality of play) between school soccer and the NFL, and simply because he was capable of excel at each positions (and have the sturdiness to play each) within the former doesn’t imply he might be ready to take action as successfully within the latter. He might should restrict himself on one facet of the ball a bit of because the grind of a season wears on.
If he doesn’t should restrict himself, and if he is ready to pull it off, it could make him one of the crucial invaluable gamers within the NFL simply primarily based on the truth that he’s two premium positions in a single participant.
