Travis Hunter was built differently in college. The former Colorado standout didn’t just play both offense and defense-he excelled at both. Whether burning DBs as a wideout or locking them down as a corner,Hunter made two-way football look almost easy.
Now, as the No. 2 pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars, he’s hoping that same formula works in the NFL. But not everyone’s on board with the plan.
Just ask Travis Kelce. The Chiefs tight end-who knows a thing or two about wearing teams down-didn’t hold back on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast. “They’re going to try and make his day miserable,” Kelce said. “If he plays corner, they’re going to run deep balls at him all day… just to get him tired. Why wouldn’t you?”
Kelce isn’t alone in his skepticism. The NFL hasn’t seen a true two-way player succeed in decades. Between the speed, schemes, and the sheer physical toll, even the most elite athletes tend to pick a lane.
You Can’t Help But Wonder How Long That Body Will Hold Up
Despite the noise, the Jaguars seem all-in. Head coach Liam Coen gave Hunter reps at both receiver and corner during minicamp and reportedly plans to keep experimenting into training camp. “We’re looking for the best playmakers. Travis is one of them,” Coen told The Athletic.
Inside the locker room, support is strong. Linebacker Josh Hines-Allen backed the decision during an interview with The Rich Eisen Show.“If he can stay healthy and get in the hyperbaric chamber, he can be great. On both sides.”
The key word? If.
Staying healthy is one thing. Staying sharp at two positions against world-class talent? That’s something else entirely. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler called Hunter “a unicorn,” but even unicorns have limits. “The NFL finds your weakness,” he said last week. “And fast.”
Hunter has the talent. The vision. The belief of his team. But this isn’t Boulder anymore-it’s the NFL. And there’s no letting up.
Not when Travis Kelce is already scheming how to break you.
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