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The Jacksonville Jaguars have sky-high expectations for Travis Hunter. Fresh off a Heisman Trophy-winning NCAA campaign, the dynamic playmaker is set to make an immediate impact on both offense and defense. The real question isn't whether he can do it, but how he'll pull it off.
Fans and analysts have been tracking Hunter's career closely for years, but scrutiny reached new heights as the 2025 NFL Draft approached. Many speculated whether the team selecting the former Colorado star would allow him to continue playing both sides of the ball.
That mystery was solved when the Jaguars took Hunter second overall. Head coach Liam Coen confirmed the young star would retain his two-way role, with a focus on his receiving duties. But now, former Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson is wondering how Hunter will balance both responsibilities.
A new challenge for Travis Hunter
If anyone understands what Hunter is about to face, it's Peterson. A former Arizona Cardinals standout, Peterson was a dual-threat himself, splitting time between cornerback and punt returner over his 13-year career-a run that earned him eight Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro honors.
For Peterson, it's not a question of if Hunter can handle it, but how. "I don't want to put a cap on Travis. I don't want to say he can't do it," Peterson said in a conversation with Cam Newton. "We had these same conversations about whether he could manage it at the college level."
Peterson trusts Hunter's abilities but acknowledges that time management will be the biggest hurdle. "The only difference now is he's going to be in the classroom more," Peterson explained. "I don't know how he'll divide his time between both roles. That's going to be the trickiest part."
The NFL is a whole different beast
This isn't Hunter's first rodeo. At Colorado, he split his time between receiver and cornerback rooms. But, as experts point out, the NFL presents an entirely new level of complexity and competition.
Hunter got his first taste of Jacksonville's system during last week's rookie minicamp. But how will he hold up when the real competition kicks off? The answer will come in just three months when the 2025 NFL regular season begins.