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Travis Hunter generated plenty of hype at Colorado as an absolutely electric two-way player who won the Heisman Trophy thanks to his ability to get it done on both sides of the ball. It seemed like he’d at least attempt to pick up where he left off after making the leap to the NFL, but that will no longer be the case after the Jaguars announced he’ll be focusing on one position.
There was once a time when it wasn’t that uncommon to see college football players take the majority of snaps as both an offensive and defensive talent. However, the time in question was an era when they were almost exclusively photographed in black and white, and they’ve been a pretty rare breed when it comes to the modern game.
Travis Hunter proved they were not extinct during his time at Colorado, as he made a name for himself while taking the field for virtually every drive for the Buffaloes as a wide receiver and cornerback. His performance during his final college season in 2024 earned him the Heisman Trophy over Ashton Jeanty, and the Jaguars scooped him up with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Concerns about the wear and tear that comes with being a two-way player were exacerbated when his rookie season was cut short by a knee injury, and it looks like Jacksonville has opted to err on the side of caution as he gears up for his return based on a new announcement about his future.
Travis Hunter will primarily serve as a cornerback for the Jaguars after attempting to play both sides of the ball
Prior to the draft, Hunter reportedly informed potential suitors he wouldn’t suit up for any team that didn’t let him continue to play two positions, and he was permitted to do exactly that after landing with the Jaguars.
He kicked off his NFL career with 298 receiving yards and a single touchdown as a wide receiver while recording 15 tackles at cornerback in his first seven games. However, he was sidelined with a knee injury he suffered at practice toward the end of October and was ultimately ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to address it.
He’ll seemingly be good to go when the Jaguars kick off training camp over the summer, and on Thursday, Ian Rapoport reported Hunter will arrive there while stepping into a new role as a part “full-time corner and part-time receiver” after the team decided to prioritize his talents on defense.
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Jaguars first round draft pick in 2026 is still Travis Hunter Jr. A look at what’s next for him and what they are looking at in the Draft. pic.twitter.com/87kcRcg2Ob
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 9, 2026
Some armchair experts are speculating he’ll be mostly deployed on gadget plays on offense, although there is a chance he could simply be used more sparingly as part of more traditional schemes. However, we won’t know for sure until the season gets underway.