In Colorado final 12 months, Hunter gained the Heisman Trophy after enjoying 753 of a potential 871 (86%) snaps on offense and 776 of a potential 938 (83%) snaps on protection. Hunter did so all whereas rating as a top-performing participant at each vast receiver and cornerback. In reality, he gained each the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the NCAA’s finest vast receiver and the Chuck Bednarik Award for the NCAA’s finest defensive participant.
Within the NFL final 12 months, Triple Crown vast receiver Ja’Marr Chase performed 1,053 of a potential 1,136 (93%) snaps on offense and Defensive Participant of the Yr Patrick Surtain II performed 1,054 of a potential 1,233 (85%) snaps on protection. For extra real looking comparisons, prime rookie vast receiver Brian Thomas Jr. performed 822 of a potential 1,033 (80%) snaps on offense and Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell — completed second in Defensive Rookie of the Yr voting — performed 1,158 of a potential 1,320 (88%) snaps on protection.
There are a number of challenges that specialists cite as points that would preserve Hunter from persevering with to work as a two-way participant within the NFL. As famous within the distinction of potential snaps counts above, NFL seasons are for much longer than faculty soccer seasons. Chase’s offense performed 265 extra snaps than Hunter’s — a 31% enhance — and Mitchell’s protection performed 382 extra snaps than Hunter’s — a 41% enhance. That’s quite a lot of additional snaps for a participant to be on the sector, even when they’ve displayed excellent endurance by enjoying each methods in faculty.
It might appear unfair to carry Hunter as much as the expectations of award winners and the highest rookies from final 12 months, however the one purpose Hunter may very well be a two-way starter within the NFL can be if he’s actually starting-caliber on either side of the ball. If enjoying on either side of the ball takes away from his skill to be starting-caliber on both aspect, it feels as if his worth can be higher served specializing in one aspect of the ball.
For a lot of the draft course of, it was believed that almost all groups considered Hunter as both a large receiver or a cornerback, with most slotting him in on protection. That made it appear doubtless that he could also be a beginning cornerback who might enter the offense for specialty performs or conditions right here and there, however the reverse appears to be the case now in Duval. Now, it seems that he shall be a starter at vast receiver and rotate in off the bench within the secondary.
It’s exhausting to say whether or not the Jaguars are actually entertaining the concept of enjoying Hunter on either side of the ball all season, as they’ve in coaching camp and the preseason, or if this depth chart is how rookie head coach Liam Coen is breaking it softly to Hunter that his focus goes to be on the offense. We gained’t actually know till midday Sunday, when Hunter’s Jaguars host the Panthers and rookie vast receiver Tetairoa McMillan, a participant Hunter did job of defending over two years in faculty.
It will likely be fascinating to observe so many facets of Hunter’s use within the NFL this 12 months. How a lot will he see the sector on protection as a backup cornerback to Tyson Campbell and Jarrian Jones? Will the rookie be prominently featured on the offense in a receiving corps alongside Thomas and Dyami Brown? If Jacksonville does play him each methods, will they restrict his time on either side of the ball or will they play him as a lot he desires to go? Does overuse end in poor play or potential accidents? With so many solutions ready within the close to future, Sunday can’t come quickly sufficient.
