Fresh off injury and packed with new muscle, the two-way phenom is dominating defensive snaps to revitalize Jacksonville’s secondary through elite ball skills and rare versatility.
Travis Hunter has seen more defensive snaps in training camp, and that's played a significant role in his preparation as the Jacksonville Jaguars' No. 1 cornerback.
Hunter will likely stay on one side of the field rather than have a receiver-based assignment. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile runs a zone-based scheme that is unpredictable from week to week.
Campanile complimented the 23-year-old's skill set, saying he's gifted with elite balance, stop-start ability and ball skills.
"His ability to take the ball out of the air and cover people up," Campanile told John Oehset on the May 5 episode of "The O-Zone Podcast." "So, I think that's going to be a huge shot in the arm for us."
Jacksonville's pass defense lagged behind its league-best run defense. It ranked 21st, allowing 218.1 yards per game last season.
Hunter's rookie year ended early with a torn LCL in his right knee. He was limited to seven games, recording 15 tackles (11 solo) and three passes defended.
Throughout his recovery process, which he documented on YouTube, the second-year Jaguar added 10 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-1 frame.
At approximately 200 pounds, Hunter worried about his speed since he never played at that weight. Those concerns quickly faded, as he said he felt lighter on his feet after several months of training.
The Jaguars have split his snaps in camp, prioritizing defense over offense. After 15 practices, he played 199 snaps (135 on defense, 63 on offense and one on special teams). On Tuesday, he reportedly took zero 11-on-11 reps on offense.
Over 65% of his reps being on defense further emphasizes how Jacksonville intends to utilize his skill set in the regular season.
He now has the extra muscle to cover receivers at the line of scrimmage. His instincts are elite, and the Jaguars are capitalizing on that while inserting him on offense in spots.
They are looking to tap into what made him the Big 12 Player of the Year at Colorado in 2024. Hunter accumulated 35 tackles (11 solo), 11 passes defended, a forced fumble and four interceptions under coach Deion Sanders.
Jacksonville needs similar production for the pass defense to see an increase in Campanile's second season as the defensive coordinator.
All eyes will be on Hunter as he attempts to break the norm as a two-way player. Many NFL legends have occasionally played both sides of the ball, but none have attempted to do so with the consistency Hunter is pursuing.
Hunter has been labeled as the Jaguars' breakout star, X-factor and even Kyle Nash, host of "The Duval Drive," believes he'll win Comeback Player of the Year.
Jacksonville hopes a focused emphasis on defense can lead to less physical stress and consistent production paired with his elite instincts.
