The Jacksonville Jaguars are preparing to open the 2025 NFL season at home against the Carolina Panthers and eyes turn to see what Travis Hunter will do, and where he places on the depth chart.
The rookie enters the professional ranks after a decorated career under Deion Sanders at the Colorado Buffaloes, where he became the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
Now a novice he could find himself looking to work his way up the depth chart against more established peers if he hopes for some meaningful work behind the football.
Fortunately, however, he has done enough to impress his coaches through the training sessions as he finds himself listed a starting wide receiver – suggesting the team sees his potential on the offense.
That makes sense after he produced 15 touchdowns and 1258 yards at Folsom Field under Coach Prime‘s stewardship, striking up a nice relationship with his quarterback, Shedeur Sanders.
Interestingly, he will be a two-way player too, much like his NCAA mentor, as Jacksonville released its first depth chart ahead of Week 1, revealing how the team intends to deploy its highly anticipated first-round pick.
The document confirmed what many expected-Hunter will line up as not just a receiver but also on the cornerback side of things, where he also excelled in college with 36 tackles, four interceptions and 11 defended passes.
On offense, Hunter has earned a starting role. He is listed alongside Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown in the Jaguars’ top three wide receivers. On defense, however, Hunter will begin as a backup.
He is slotted behind veteran cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who joins Tyson Campbell as the team’s starting duo in the secondary, a wise move as the team looks to protect him from serious injury.
“We’re still working through it right now,” Liam Coen, head coach, said of bringing Hunter back to full force. “He obviously missed a lot of time there.
“That can impact playing anybody, nonetheless a rookie that misses quite a bit of time. So what that usage looks like, we’re still working through.”
Will Hunter play as a cornerback AND wide receiver in Week 1?
During the early stages of training camp, Hunter was frequently used in drills that tested his ability to balance responsibilities on both offense and defense, as his practice distribution ended up being nearly split.
But as camp progressed, the coaching staff placed a stronger emphasis on polishing his skills as a wide receiver, an area where Coen highlighted the need for continued refinement.
That shift in focus suggests Hunter‘s primary role in Week 1 will come on offense. However, his defensive ability remains a resource the Jaguars can call upon, particularly in matchups requiring added coverage depth.
Fans will get their first official look when Jacksonville hosts the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 7, at EverBank Stadium in Florida. Kick-off is scheduled for 13:00 ET/10:00 PT.
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