Jaguars' Travis Hunter feeling faster even with weight gain - ESPN

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Travis Hunter knew he needed to gain some weight to help prepare his body for his second NFL season, but he was worried how that would affect the way he felt and moved.

Turns out it's possible to be heavier and lighter at the same time.

That's how Hunter described himself Friday after the Jacksonville Jaguars' third training camp practice. He is 10 pounds heavier but faster than he has ever been, which he proved by running almost 23 mph while training this offseason amid a nine-month rehab from a knee injury that cost the two-way player most of his rookie season.

«Everybody like, 'Gain weight, gain weight,'» Hunter said. «Coach [Liam Coen] was like, 'Hey, play at whatever weight you're happy at.' So me just coming in and putting on them pounds, I was scared at first. I'm like, 'Oh dang, I've never played at this weight. I'm going to feel heavy. I'm not going to be able to do what I do.'

»But training and being able to put those months in, not just on the grass but in the weight room too, just putting in at the work, it made me feel lighter on my feet when I finally touched the grass."

Hunter is listed at 185 pounds, and he reached 22.6 mph while working out at the Jaguars' practice facility. NFL NextGen Stats has kept track of each player during games since 2016 and logged their top speeds. Only two players have posted a top speed of more than 22.6 mph in a game: Tyreek Hill and Raheem Mostert. Hill recorded the fastest time of any ball carrier since tracking began by hitting 23.24 mph on a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that was nullified by a penalty in 2016.

Hunter said his goal is to crack 23 mph. Coen is still amazed that Hunter got faster than he was last season despite having surgery