Travis Hunter Could Change The NFL Forever As A Two-Way Star

I am not ready to hand Travis Hunter a gold jacket for his preseason effort as a rare "two-way" standout, but the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft flashes elite playmaking potential as a wide receiver-defensive back with full-time duties on the horizon. 

Though the 6-foot, 185-pounder logged around 20 total snaps in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ preseason debut, the sneak peek showed the football world the team’s commitment to a unique plan that could revolutionize the sport. 

Hunter, listed as a starter at wide receiver and backup at cornerback on the Jaguars’ initial depth chart, played 18 total snaps, with 10 snaps on offense and eight snaps on defense. While the offensive-defensive split did not meet the Jaguars’ goal of 10 snaps on each side of the ball, the balanced workload suggests the team is committed to deploying the rookie in a way that is similar to his role at Colorado where he was awarded the Heisman Trophy after amassing 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on 96 receptions at wide receiver, while tallying 36 tackles, four interceptions and 11 passes defensed at cornerback. 

Despite his success as a collegiate two-way standout, the skeptics question whether a player can thrive as a full-time starter on each side of the ball. As a former NFL wide receiver-kick returner who spent the last three years of my career at cornerback, I am convinced Hunter can pull off the rare experiment based on his talent, ball skills and instincts as a wide receiver-defensive back. 

As an exceptional pass catcher with extraordinary hand-eye coordination and body control, Hunter operates like an MLB centerfielder tracking down fly balls in the alleys. Whether catching slants and digs from the slot, working between the