Coen: Jaguars WR/CB Hunter Has 'Special' Endurance

This past week, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen had an in-depth interview with ESPN NFL Analyst Peter Schrager, where he outlined certain standout players and expectations for the upcoming season.

The second-year head coach addressed starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence, defensive players, and former Heisman winner Travis Hunter.

Along with confirming that the coaching staff still plans to play Hunter on both sides of the ball, he had high praise for the 2025 NFL Draft's No. 2 overall pick.

"He's special. His endurance and ability to just run forever... it's like, 'Dude, what are you made of?'" Coen said. "He's just built that way, and we love his competitive spirit and character."

This ambition has been evident throughout Hunter's football career, as he has previously said he would rather quit playing football than play one side of the ball.

While it remains to be seen if this is plausible deeper into Hunter's career, his drive to continue playing both wide receiver and defensive back is applaudable. 

Last season, Hunter played 67 percent of his snaps on offense, with the former Colorado star spending roughly a third of his playing time in the NFL on defense.

But, with emerging offensive talents like Brenton Strange and Parker Washington, the team had initially indicated Hunter would likely be deployed more on defense once healthy.

Prior to being sidelined with an MCL tear last season, Hunter recorded 298 receiving yards and one touchdown on 28 receptions along with 15 tackles and three passes defensed.

His injury came at an unfortunate time, as Hunter had just began to look like a dynamic force on both ends.

Recent footage from OTAs and practice showed Hunter hitting running speeds upwards of 22 miles per hour. Both Coen and Hunter have talked about feeling even faster since before the injury, which is a testament to the second-year player's work ethic.

This speed, along with the unique skillset Hunter possesses, has seemingly built the trust his teammates have for him as well.

In early July, veteran defensive tackle Arik Armstead joined SiriusXM NFL Radio, where he called Hunter the "most naturally talented athlete" he had ever played with.

"Things will slow for him, just like they do for all of us. He’ll be going into his second year being in the same system, around the same coaches, and knowing what is asked of him," Armstead said. "We know how challenging that can be as a rookie just mastering one side of the ball, so I think in year 2 he’s going to take a huge step and help our team in a lot of different ways."

Whether its alongside Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and Brian Thomas Jr. on offense, or holding down the perimeter next to newly resigned Montaric Brown on defense, Hunter is set for a big sophomore jump.

Join the Community

Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!

It's completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.