Tag: Travis Hunter

Jaguars’ Travis Hunter to continue as two-way player

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Travis Hunter’s season-ending knee injury won’t keep him from playing both sides of the ball again in 2026.

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said Wednesday that the plan is to continue playing the former Heisman Trophy winner at wide receiver and cornerback moving forward.

“We still expect him to play on both sides of the ball,” Gladstone said. “… The steps that he was taking by the midpoint of the season really made us feel good about what the back half of the year was going to be on both sides of the ball and what that impact was going to look like being a feature point on offense and an impact player on defense.

“It (the injury) was just disappointing timing but nonetheless feel good about where we are heading into this offseason and what next year should hold.”

Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Colorado, underwent surgery to repair the LCL in his right knee on Nov. 11. He sustained the non-contact injury during practice on Oct. 30.

Hunter, 22, caught 28 passes for 298 yards and one touchdown in seven games (four starts), adding 15 tackles and three passes defensed while playing 324 snaps on offense and 162 on defense.

In his final game, he caught eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in a Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

“With Travis having gotten to a place midseason where you felt like he was starting to peak and really make a real dent, and the plan for post-bye was to continue to enhance that, (it was) tough not to be able to see that come to life down the backstretch,” Gladstone said.

Hunter is expected to return to full football activities in time for OTAs in May.

“For him right now it’s about getting his rehab right and diving in mentally because of some of the limitations we’ll have throughout the offseason program,” head coach Liam Coen said. “But I’m really excited about getting back to work with Travis and continue that evolution and see what that looks like.”

–Field Level Media

Knee surgery shelves Jaguars rookie WR Travis Hunter until 2026

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter is out for up to six months following surgery to repair the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.

Hunter, who also plays cornerback, had the operation in Dallas on Tuesday and surgeons found no additional damage, the team announced on Tuesday.

Hunter missed the past two games and is on injured reserve.

The team timeline for Hunter, the No. 2 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, to return to football activities is approximately six months.

Hunter, 22, was injured Oct. 30 while participating in defensive drills in practice.

Hunter had 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown and played more than two-thirds of Jacksonville’s offensive snaps. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner and two-way star at Colorado spent less time on defense in practice and in games, where he logged time on about 36 percent of Jacksonville’s total defensive snaps.

To change draft positions from No. 5 to No. 2 in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, the Jaguars parted with the 36th pick in the 2025 draft — which Cleveland used to select Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins — and their 2026 first-round pick.

Hunter said in April that he wouldn’t feel added pressure to produce because of the assets the Jaguars used to bring him to Jacksonville.

“There’s no pressure,” Hunter said. “There’s no pressure for me. I just have to go out there and do my job, be Travis Hunter. They did everything they could to come get me. Now, I have to do everything I could to help win and help the organization uplift them.”

Since Hunter’s injury, Parker Washington has emerged as a go-to threat for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Washington has 28 receptions for 330 yards and two TDs and has been targeted 26 times over the past three games.

Brian Thomas Jr. leads the team with 30 receptions but was inactive last week against the Texans. Thomas has a high-ankle sprain that could impact his availability for multiple games.

The Jaguars traded for Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers last week. Meyers played in Week 10 and caught three passes for 41 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2025; London, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jaguars to put two-way rookie Travis Hunter (knee) on IR

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Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter will be placed on injured reserve with a non-contact knee injury he sustained in practice on Thursday, head coach Liam Coen announced.

“We’re still assessing,” Coen said Friday morning. “We haven’t gotten all of the information. This just kind of got going last night when we got some information. So, we’re still waiting on further information to be able to determine how long it will be.”

The move to injured reserve will sideline Hunter at least four games for the Jaguars (4-3), who are returning from their bye to visit the Las Vegas Raiders (2-5) on Sunday.

Hunter is coming off his best offensive performance of his young NFL career. He recorded season-best totals in catches (eight) and receiving yards (101) while reeling in his lone touchdown of the season in Jacksonville’s 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London on Oct. 19.

“Yeah, it’s definitely not ideal timing — not that any injury is ideal timing,” Coen said. “But got to believe the makeup, his general attitude toward life, how he handles dealing with specific situations — I have a lot of belief in Travis as a person, as a competitor to come back better than ever.”

Hunter has a team-best 28 catches for 298 yards with that lone touchdown in seven games since being selected by the Jaguars with the second overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.

He also has 15 tackles and three passes defended on the other side of the ball.

Hunter, 22, won the 2024 Heisman Trophy as a two-way standout at Colorado, where his defensive numbers included seven interceptions and 16 passes defensed in two seasons.

–Field Level Media

Heisman Trophy winner Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty and Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward pose for a photo during a press conference before the 2024 Heisman Trophy Presentation. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

The Replacements: Players primed to replace stars of 2024

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter was a one-of-a-kind player and he owns a Heisman Trophy to prove it.

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty was the breakaway king who put together the best college running back season since legendary Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State in 1988.

Hunter and Jeanty had the ultimate Big Man on Campus status last season and are now rookies in the NFL. It’s now time for other players to step up and make their mark.

So let us key on the replacements for the Big Men on Campus. Some are already apparent and others will emerge in September. Of course, we need two players to step up to replace Hunter.

As for the new Big Men on Campus, none were easier to forecast than Texas quarterback Arch Manning. His potential is why the Longhorns begin the season as the nation’s No. 1 team. And former Georgia star Carson Beck is surely more than a capable replacement at Miami for Cam Ward.

Here are the key replacements for the 2025 season:

Departed BMOC: Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter

Replacements: WR Joseph Williams, CB DJ McKinney

Williams was the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year for Tulsa last season when he caught 30 passes for 588 yards and five touchdowns. Nobody is expecting the transfer to approach Hunter numbers but he’ll likely challenge for a 1,000-yard season.

DJ McKinney was the other cornerback last season while Hunter was the star. Now he will be the top dog after having three interceptions last season. Oklahoma transfer Makari Vickers also is a player to watch at cornerback.

Departed BMOC: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty

Replacements: Malik Sherrod, Sire Gaines

Fresno State transfer Sherrod and freshman Gaines will be splitting carries to start the season. Sherrod rushed for 966 yards in 2023 before being limited to four games last season due to injury, while Gaines had 156 last season in three games prior to being lost with an injury. They won’t be combining for Jeanty’s 2,601 on the ground but they do have enough potential to keep the dropoff from being too steep.

Departed BMOC: Penn State DE Abdul Carter

Replacement: Dani Dennis-Sutton

Sutton had 8.5 sacks last season while Carter was being double-teamed or even facing triple teams on the other side of the line. Now Sutton will be the feared guy expected to post 12 to 15 sacks and be a terror — even if approaching Carter’s level of domination isn’t realistic. His three-season numbers of 15 sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions show he’s ready for the lead role.

Departed BMOC: Miami QB Cam Ward

Replacement: Carson Beck

Beck excelled while starting for Georgia the past two seasons and had 7,426 yards and 52 touchdown passes. While guiding the Bulldogs to a 13-1 record in 2023, he completed 72.4 percent of his passes and tossed just six interceptions but he regressed last season to 64.7 percent and 12 picks. Obtaining a veteran replacement that has been through the wars to replace Ward is a huge bonus for the Hurricanes.

Departed BMOC: Texas QB Quinn Ewers

Replacement: Arch Manning

Manning was solid when replacing an injured Ewers last season and he finished the campaign with 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions along with four rushing scores. This is his third year in the system so he’s had ample time to master it and he should be one of the top quarterbacks in the country. Of course, he has the bloodlines of the Manning assembly line so anything short of stardom will be surprising.

Departed BMOC: Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel

Replacement: Dante Moore

Moore watched the precise Gabriel play last season and the offensive coaches are hoping there won’t be a large drop-off. Moore began his college career at UCLA and threw 213 passes in 2023 so he does have experience. The Ducks are used to rolling up points so Oregon’s win-loss record could take a hit if Moore doesn’t produce big.

Departed BMOC: Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo

Replacement: Kyson Brown

Skattebo became a national sensation while leading the Sun Devils to a surprise playoff berth and Brown says he relishes trying to prove people wrong about this season’s running game. Brown has been a backup the past two seasons and rushed for 351 yards in 2024, including a 100-yard game against Arizona. Army transfer Kayne Udho transferred in after rushing for 1,117 yards and 10 scores last season and he will certainly receive plenty of opportunities.

Departed BMOC: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

Replacement: Kaidon Salter

Liberty transfer Salter threw 32 touchdown passes in 2023 before the number dropped to 15 last season. He’s a veteran signal caller that avoids miscues (17 interceptions in 702 career attempts) and should provide the Buffaloes with consistent play. He won’t match Sanders’ passing-yardage totals but his stability and experience will be a plus for Colorado.

Departed BMOC: Penn State TE Tyler Warren

Replacement: Khalil Dinkins

Dinkins had just 14 catches last season while playing behind the stellar Warren and has 23 in three seasons but his role will be much bigger. His 4.5 40-yard dash time is reportedly a record for a Penn State tight end so he ought to be able to shed linebackers and stop in front of safeties and approach 50 receptions. Luke Reynolds had nine catches in a backup role and also will be utilized more this season.

Departed BMOC: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe

Replacement: QB Ty Simpson

Being on par with Milroe as a leader will be the biggest chore for Simpson, who has thrown 50 passes over the past three seasons. The timing of being the Crimson Tide quarterback is a little dicey after the program experienced some slippage during coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season. New offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb helped Michael Penix Jr. flourish at Washington and now his task is to mold Simpson into an upper-tier SEC quarterback.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) claps to music during an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jags WR/CB Travis Hunter misses practice with injury

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Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter is dealing with an upper-body injury and could miss Sunday’s preseason game at New Orleans, coach Liam Coen said Friday.

Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick who is playing both cornerback and wide receiver, did not practice Thursday and may sit out against the Saints as a precaution.

Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy while starring on both sides of the ball at Colorado, but this injury will no doubt restart the debate about how sustainable two-way play is at the NFL level.

Jacksonville’s most recent depth chart released on Tuesday has Hunter listed as a No. 1 receiver, along with Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown. He is listed on the second team at cornerback behind starters Tyson Campbell and Jourdan Lewis.

Hunter, 22, caught both of his targets for 9 yards in the Jags’ 31-25 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in last Saturday’s preseason opener. He played 10 snaps on offense and eight on defense.

Following Sunday’s game at New Orleans, the Jaguars finish the preseason at Miami on Aug. 23. They kick off the regular season at home against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 7.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) looks on during an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jaguars start Travis Hunter at WR, CB reps coming soon

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On the first day of training camp, the answer to questions regarding whether Travis Hunter would play offense or defense for the Jacksonville Jaguars was unchanged.

Both.

Hunter was an early arrival on the practice field in a bright teal No. 12 jersey, the color signifying he’d play with the offense on Wednesday. Hunter and wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett drilled hand usage and line-of-scrimmage release technique before team sessions started.

“Within the first six practices or so, he will (play defense),” Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said. “You want to give him a couple days offense, a couple days defense and then give him the opportunity to go flip-flop within the same practice. Then that’ll kind of become the norm. That will become the norm of how we operate.”

Hunter and 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. rotated through reps on short comeback routes and in-cutting patterns in the opening portion of group position work. He briefly aligned with defensive backs during a special teams walkthrough without live reps.

The offensive-minded Coen said last month defensive coaches already were trying to get more time with Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner at Colorado, where he starred at wide receiver and cornerback. His two-way capability inspired Coen and general manager James Gladstone to move up in the draft to select Hunter second overall.

“(Defensive backs coach Ron Milus) Milo came up to me after practice and said, ‘Can we have him more?’” Coen told reporters in June. “And so that’s a good thing. Just the movement skills. You can definitely see how natural it is for him. When you see him in the actual 7-on and team setting, he doesn’t look out of place by any means.”

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) runs a passing drill during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ third mandatory minicamp Thursday June 12, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

Jaguars sign Travis Hunter to reported 4-year, $46.65M deal

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The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed No. 2 overall draft pick Travis Hunter to a four-year rookie contract, the team announced Sunday, with the deal worth a reported $46.65 million with a $30.57 million signing bonus.

The contract is fully guaranteed and Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, becomes the first non-quarterback not drafted first overall to collect the signing bonus up front, according to his agents, Adie von Gontard and Ray Haija of Young Money APAA Sports. There is the standard fifth-year option for first-round selections.

The Jaguars plan to play Hunter at both cornerback and wide receiver, and he worked primarily on offense at OTAs and the mandatory three-day minicamp.

Jacksonville came into the April draft with 10 picks, including the fifth overall. The Jaguars moved up to select Hunter by trading the fifth and 36th pick, a fourth-round selection (No. 126) in 2025 and their first-round pick in 2026 to the Cleveland Browns for the No. 2 pick, a fourth-rounder (No. 106) and a sixth-round selection (No. 200).

Hunter played both positions and averaged more than 113 snaps per game at Colorado in 2024. He hauled in 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns, adding one rushing touchdown. On defense, he recorded four interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 36 tackles.

He was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and the AP college football player of the year in addition to winning the Heisman Trophy.

With Sanders officially under contract, the remaining 2025 first-round draft picks left unsigned are Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart and Denver Broncos cornerback Jahdae Barron.

–Field Level Media

Apr 25, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; A graphic announcing Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ selection by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick is seen in the Draft Theater during the third day of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders’ Browns jersey ranks third in rookie sales

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Just three days after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns, Shedeur Sanders’ No. 00 ranks as the third-best selling jersey among all NFL rookies.

Sanders, who has yet to be assigned an official number, trails only former Colorado teammate Travis Hunter (Jacksonville, No. 12) and No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward (Tennessee, No. 1) on the list based on sales at the NFL Shop website.

Sanders already had a high profile before he was selected in the fifth round – No. 144 overall – by the Browns on Saturday. But the quarterback’s extended slide in the draft became conversation fodder for fans and non-fans alike – even President Donald Trump offered a social media take on Sanders’ predicament — and took Sanders’ Q rating to a new level.

Will anyone see Sanders play in a Browns jersey this season? That’s a question easier to answer once the franchise conducts its rookie workouts in May and mandatory mini-camp in June. He will be one of four healthy quarterbacks in camp – joining fellow draftee Dillon Gabriel, 40-year-old former Super Bowl winner Joe Flacco and offseason acquisition Kenny Pickett.

According to reports, here are the other rookie jerseys on the top 10 chart: Oakland Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, Panthers wideout Tetairoa McMillan, Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, Giants defensive end Abdul Carter, Packers receiver Matthew Golden, Colts tight end Tyler Warren and Bears tight end Colston Loveland.

Only Sanders was not selected in the first round.

–Field Level Media

Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter is selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the number two pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jaguars GM: Travis Hunter can change ‘trajectory of the sport’

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Jaguars general manager James Gladstone was in a celebratory mood in the hours after trading up from the No. 5 spot to select two-way star Travis Hunter with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday.

Gladstone said the Jaguars won’t be shy about how they viewed Hunter.

“There are players who have the capacity to alter a game,” Gladstone said. “There are players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of the team. There are very few players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of the sport itself. Travis, while he has a lot to still learn, in our eyes has the capacity to do just that.”

The party atmosphere wasn’t limited to Gladstone, a 34-year-old running his first draft after nine years with the Rams.

“Arik Armstead FaceTimed us from Green Bay,” first-year head coach Liam Coen said. “You couldn’t hear anything. It was a crazy atmosphere.”

Gladstone described feeling the room light up when Hunter entered the room at the NFL Scouting Combine. Out of fear of tipping their hand, Gladstone kept the team’s interest in acquiring the pick and the player to themselves until reaching out to Hunter’s agent.

“When he walks into the room, the light turns on. That (15-minute interview) was a moment that resonated with us,” Gladstone said. “It was really telling with the mind, the curiosity, the interest in growth.”

Gladstone said preparation made the franchise confident in making the move — and sacrificing next year’s first-round pick — standing on the principle that he wouldn’t be pleased if he looked back at “not doing something out of fear.”

“That’s not something I intend on doing the rest of my life,” he said. “Not being scared. Courage goes a long way.”

“This is certainly a statement for how we plan to move, how we plan to operate,” Gladstone said Thursday night of the bold move to acquire the Heisman Trophy winner.

Hunter showed no fear of the unknown as a college player, averaging more than 115 snaps per game as a wide receiver and cornerback.

“He is somebody who is deserving as a first-round draft pick as a wide receiver. And he is worthy as a first-round pick as a corner,” Gladstone said. “We’re excited about just getting him in the boat, so to speak.”

Gladstone said the Jaguars considered Hunter “rare” as a player and a person. He was universally praised by evaluators for his mental approach as a key reason he became a productive player at two vital positions.

“The accountability — the way that he’s in the facility at 5 a.m. training his body. He’s a 4.0 student. Goes on the field, he impacts the game. On both sides of the ball, he impacts the game,” Coen said. “He’s got a great feel for the game itself. Really good ball skills. He can do something with it after the catch.”

–Field Level Media

Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jaguars swap with Browns, draft Travis Hunter No. 2 overall

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The Jacksonville Jaguars made a massive trade with the Cleveland Browns to acquire the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday, which they used to select Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter.

The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner plans to play both wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL.

The Jaguars moved up three spots from No. 5 overall. Per reports, they also sent the Browns second- and fourth-round picks in the 2025 draft and their first-round selection in 2026. Jacksonville will also receive 2025 fourth- and sixth-round picks from Cleveland.

In 2024, Hunter hauled in 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns, adding one rushing touchdown. On defense, he recorded four interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 36 tackles.

–Field Level Media