At Jaguars camp, the spotlight has landed squarely on rookie Travis Hunter and he’s making every moment count. Drafted second overall, Hunter entered the league with expectations sky-high.
Now, just a few weeks into camp, he’s already surpassing them. Veteran cornerback Tyson Campbell, a foundational piece of the Jaguars’ defense, was quick to acknowledge the challenge of lining up against the versatile rookie.
“It’s just how quick he is and how shifty he is,” Campbell said following practice. “He gets to his spot and Trevor Lawrence’s able to put it anywhere-and he’s athletic enough to reach out and go get it. His ball skills are definitely something that catches your eye.”
Hunter hasn’t just turned heads-he’s been rewriting the tempo of drills, especially in one-on-one matchups. Jaguars beat reporter John Shipley noted that Hunter has been “nearly impossible to cover,” even leaving experienced cornerbacks like Jourdan Lewis struggling to adjust.
The rookie’s combination of burst, footwork, and awareness has turned routine plays into highlight reels.
A new kind of NFL weapon is emerging in Jacksonville
Hunter’s reputation preceded him. At Colorado, he was a force on both sides of the ball-racking up 153 receptions, nearly 2,000 yards, and 20 touchdowns as a receiver, while also adding 66 tackles and 7 interceptions on defense.
He claimed the Heisman, Biletnikoff, and Bednarik Awards, becoming the first college football player to ever do so in one season.
But stats alone don’t tell the full story. What’s becoming clear in Jacksonville is how fluidly Hunter’s game transitions to the pro level. On offense, his ability to read coverages and attack soft spots is already making him one of Trevor Lawrence‘s favorite targets.
On defense, his experience as a wideout gives him an edge, as he knows what routes look like from both sides of the ball.
Offensive coordinator Liam Coen has made it clear that the Jaguars are prioritizing Hunter’s development at receiver to start. So far, Hunter has logged 72 snaps on offense and 67 on defense, according to internal reports.
That dual workload may seem ambitious for a rookie, but Hunter thrives in that space. Campbell put it best: “That’s what makes him so unique. He brings those ball skills from the offensive side and uses them in the same way on defense.”
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