Doubts persist about Travis Hunter‘s skill to play cornerback/vast receiver extensively within the NFL.
The Jacksonville Jaguars‘ rookie played both positions in Saturday’s 31-25 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In accordance with Bleacher Report, the No. 2 decide of the 2025 NFL Draft lined up on 11 offensive snaps and eight defensive snaps.
On a Sunday episode of ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler known as the workload a “wholesome break up.” The query is, although, will his function mirror the one he had with the Colorado Buffaloes?
“[A scout told me], ‘Look, he can do it in a setting like this the place it is decrease snap counts and he seems good, ‘” Fowler said (h/t Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker). “It is clear that he strikes a little bit otherwise than numerous different particular skill-set, particular athletes.’ However in case you’re speaking, 70, 80 snaps over a sport over 17 video games, there’s nonetheless numerous skepticism.”
Hunter performed 1,552 snaps (753 offensive, 776 defensive and 23 particular groups) in 13 video games final season, per Pro Football Focus. The 2024 Heisman winner excelled on either side of the ball, catching 15 landing passes and intercepting 4.
Saturday’s preseason sport didn’t show if Hunter can deal with that workload within the NFL. Nonetheless, it gave Jacksonville an concept of the way it can proceed to enhance its plans for the 22-year-old.
“No less than that was a great little blueprint for what you possibly can do, how you possibly can use him,” Fowler mentioned. “Put him in there for a few snaps on offense, deliver him off, get him some water, deliver him again in. It will be a course of. I feel the Jaguars are coping with fluidity all through. I feel it is going to be altering as we go.”
The Jaguars play the New Orleans Saints of their second preseason sport on Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. ET. Whether or not Jacksonville ramps up his workload on either side of the ball or in the event that they use him extra at one place may make clear if the staff will tweak his function.
