Seven games. That’s all it took for Travis Hunter to make the NFL stop and stare. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ rookie, who plays both wide receiver and cornerback, has started to bend what we thought was possible in the modern league. He’s not just playing both sides of the ball; he’s thriving on them. The same athlete who turned Colorado football into a national headline under Deion Sanders is now bringing that same rare versatility to Sundays. Even with a recent injury slowing him down, you can feel it: this might be the start of something special.
Why Might Travis Hunter Actually Be the NFL’s Next Two-Way Phenom?
Most rookies take months to adjust to the speed of the professional game. Hunter needed maybe a week. By Week 5, he had already done something no rookie had managed in Pro Football Focus history by earning top grades at two different positions in the same game: a 77.3 at receiver and a 76.9 at corner.
Against the Kansas City Chiefs, for instance, he notched three catches for 64 yards, including a 44-yard strike from Trevor Lawrence that showcased his dynamic ability. He has that extra gear, showing sudden acceleration, clean routes, and zero panic. As a result, the Jaguars’ coaching staff began to trust him more, steadily increasing his snaps and testing the limits of his football IQ. Through seven games, he has piled up 486 snaps, with 324 on offense and 162 on defense. That workload speaks volumes about the faith the organization already has in him.
Then came the London game in Week 7, which felt like his true coming-out party. Hunter delivered with eight catches, 101 yards, and a touchdown. Shortly after that peak, however, he suffered a non-contact knee injury in a Thursday practice, a development that landed him on the injured list. You could almost hear the collective groan from Jaguars fans everywhere. Head coach Liam Coen tried to calm the noise, calling it a “minor setback for a major comeback.” You could tell he believed it.
While the injury has been a setback, his production remains notable. Hunter has 28 receptions for 298 yards and one score on offense, plus 15 tackles and three pass breakups on defense. However, his true contribution is not always reflected in the box score. When he’s on the field, both offenses and defenses have to shift their entire rhythm to account for him. That’s the unique power Hunter holds.
Deion Sanders helped build that foundation in him. At Colorado, Sanders let him go fully two-way, playing offense, defense, and whatever else was asked of him. It wasn’t just a training regimen; it was permission to be a complete football player. That kind of trust clearly changed him. You can still see the fingerprints of that mentorship all over how he plays: free, fearless, and intelligent. In the process, Colorado’s reputation also got a bump, proving it can be a place that molds legitimate, all-around talent for the next level.
Now, it’s just a matter of time and health. If Hunter bounces back strong from his injury, Jacksonville could have something the NFL has not seen in decades: a legitimate, full-time two-way star. This isn’t a gimmick or a publicity stunt, but a real weapon. He is the kind of player that forces opposing teams to rethink how they use their best athletes. You can feel it, if anyone is built to pull this off, it’s Travis Hunter.
