When Travis Hunter was selected No. 2 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2025 National Football League Draft, the most obvious comparison wasn't to another football player.

It was to the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way player, Shohei Ohtani, a three-time Most Valuable Player Award winner and the best all-around star in Major League Baseball. Hunter himself even pointed out the connection between the two men's skill sets, drawing some criticism from fans and media for anointing himself before proving anything. And to be fair, he didn't get out of the blocks very quickly in his pro football career 

That comparison seemed almost unfair at the time. Ohtani had already ascended to being an international icon, while the biggest thing on the Jaguars star's resume is the Heisman Trophy he won as a member of the Colorado Buffaloes

Still, the analogy was impossible to ignore. Hunter had spent his college career doing something that was almost unheard of at the highest level of football: playing wide receiver and cornerback — and not merely filling in occasionally. He was a legitimate impact player on both sides of the ball.

Hunter's sophomore season has provided perhaps the clearest evidence yet that his value isn't simply based on being a novelty. He's becoming a legitimate difference-maker at cornerback. Yet, he can still line up at receiver or in the backfield on offense and 

Through the Jags' first four contests, Hunter has allowed just 10 receptions on 17 targets for 129 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. His passer rating against is just 58.2 so far. In man coverage, his numbers are even more remarkable: zero receptions allowed on five targets and a 0.0 passer rating.

That's not simply a football player dabbling at another position. It's a cornerback becoming very good at being a cornerback. That's what makes the Ohtani comparison intriguing, even if it’s a little bit of a stretch. The analogy is accurate, but in reality, the Japanese megastar is an all-time great ALREADY in America’s Pastime. 

Ohtani isn't remarkable simply because he can pitch and hit. He's historically elite because he can legitimately perform at his sport’s highest level in ways we have never seen before. In essence, he can transform an MLB team into a contender almost by himself. That’s a trait that players like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky had in the NBA and NHL, respectively. The value comes from the fact that either skill would make him a star on its own.

Ohtani proved that extraordinary talent doesn't always have to fit neatly into one box. Hunter is attempting to do something similar in football. And head coach Liam Coen may have put it best when describing his multi-talented star:

“He's definitely got some of those freaky traits.”

Hunter still has a little bit to go to be considered elite at his position right now. However, in a few years, we may be seeing journalists and analysts reach for the theory again. If the way he's performed thus far in 2026 continues, it looks like he's set to break out after missing most of his rookie campaign.