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3 bold predictions for Travis Hunter's rookie year with Jaguars

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The Sporting News
6h ago

Travis Hunter, a unique dual-position player drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars, is poised for an intriguing rookie season with aspirations to play both wide receiver and cornerback. Despite Hunter's insistence on playing both positions, head coach Liam Coen acknowledges the challenge in maintaining a balanced schedule to maximize Hunter's potential. Hunter's versatility is further highlighted by his willingness to contribute as a quarterback in trick plays, showcasing his adaptability and value as a multifaceted athlete. The potential for Hunter to surpass the rookie records set by teammate Brian Thomas Jr. adds to the excitement, with both players forming a formidable duo on the field. As Hunter faces stiff competition from elite cornerbacks like L'Jarius Snead and Derek Stingley, his rookie year is anticipated to be a captivating journey worth following closely.

3 bold predictions for Travis Hunter's rookie year with Jaguars

Travis Hunter, drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars, is a unique two-way player eager to make an impact as both a wide receiver and a cornerback, reflecting his impressive college stats with 96 receptions, 1,258 yards, 15 touchdowns, 35 tackles, and 5 interceptions.

Head coach Liam Coen supports Hunter's dual-role ambitions, emphasizing the need for a flexible and adaptable schedule to provide Hunter with sufficient training on both sides of the ball, allowing him to excel as a versatile player.

In addition to his primary roles, Hunter has expressed interest in playing quarterback during trick plays, further showcasing his versatility and potential to be a dynamic, multi-position threat on the field.

Hunter's rookie season is anticipated to be exciting, especially with the possibility of surpassing records set by Brian Thomas Jr., his teammate who achieved 87 receptions, 1,282 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns in his rookie year.

Facing tough opponents like Titans' L'Jarius Snead and Texans' Derek Stingley, Hunter's performance will be tested, yet his partnership with Thomas Jr. could prove advantageous as they may draw defensive attention away from each other.

The Jaguars, under Coen's innovative leadership, aim to creatively integrate Hunter into their gameplay, leveraging his diverse skill set to maximize his contributions and enhance the team's overall performance.

Hunter's rookie journey is set to be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, given his potential to redefine the expectations of a rookie dual-position player in the NFL.

The Jacksonville Jaguars pushed all their chips in for Travis Hunter.

The unique, two-way star out of Colorado now has a starting point for what is sure to be an interesting career. 

Could Hunter play cornerback and wide receiver? What if he's forced to play just one side of the ball? Hunter has said he would "quit football" if limited to one position, but in the end it will be up to head coach Liam Coen and his staff.

What will Travis Hunter do this year? There are a lot of possibilities.

Travis Hunter gets Pro Bowl nominations for wide receiver and cornerback

If Travis Hunter had his way this would be the ideal scenario. 

He would get to play significant reps on both sides of the ball and excel as a defensive back and a wideout. 

Last year at Colorado, Hunter had 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver. He added 35 tackles and 5 interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.

Coen has expressed support for Hunter getting time at two positions.

"We've had those conversations, and we have to be fluid," Coen said. "From a scheduling standpoint, we have it all laid out, but we also have to have the ability to be agile and be fluid on specific days. If we feel like he didn't get enough work on one side of the ball the previous day, then we need to be able to move forward and get him those reps the next day."

Hunter gets snaps at a third position: Quarterback

In a recent YouTube video of Hunter visiting the Jaguars' facility and meeting Coen, the rookie offered his services as a thrower of the football. 

“You know I can play quarterback too, right? I can throw the ball, so on trick plays,” Hunter said as he tossed a football at Coen.

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It would not be surprising to see Hunter as a gadget option across the field. Not only could he be a quarterback, he could also be a threat out of the backfield. 

Coen is a young, creative mind and he will try to involve Jacksonville's shiny new toy as much as possible.

Travis Hunter breaks Brian Thomas Jr.'s rookie records

Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. make one of the most lethal one-two punches in the NFL. 

Thomas Jr. just set multiple Jaguars' rookie records last season. He holds the record for receptions (87), receiving yards (1,282), and touchdowns (10). 

Could Hunter come in one year later and one-up his new teammate? 

The unicorn athlete was unstoppable in college, but it'll be a whole new level of competition. 

L'Jarius Snead of the Titans and Derek Stingley of the Texans are both excellent cornerbacks that Hunter will see twice a year each. 

He may benefit from having Thomas Jr. to draw some safety help, but BTJ will also draw plenty of touches too. 

Whatever Hunter ends up doing in his rookie year, it will be worth keeping your eyes on. 

MORE: Jaguars likely replacing Travis Etienne with Bhayshul Tuten, fastest RB in NFL Draft

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