Doubts persist about Travis Hunter‘s capacity to play cornerback/large 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 choose 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 cut up.” The query is, although, will his position 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 appears good, ‘” Fowler said (h/t Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker). “It is clear that he strikes a little bit in another way than quite a lot of 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 quite a lot of 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 each side of the ball, catching 15 landing passes and intercepting 4.
Saturday’s preseason sport did not show if Hunter can deal with that workload within the NFL. Nevertheless, it gave Jacksonville an concept of the way it can proceed to enhance its plans for the 22-year-old.
“A minimum of that was a very good little blueprint for what you can do, how you can use him,” Fowler mentioned. “Put him in there for a few snaps on offense, convey him off, get him some water, convey him again in. It is going to be a course of. I believe the Jaguars are coping with fluidity all through. I believe it will 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 each side of the ball or if it makes use of him extra at one place might make clear if the staff will tweak his position.
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