Travis Hunter made headlines with his debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars as the No. 2 overall pick in the National Football League, taking on roles at both wide receiver and cornerback—a rarity in today’s league. The Jaguars developed a training camp plan that moved him between positions, often within the same practice, drawing attention throughout the league.
However, some veteran figures in football have expressed concern over this ambitious approach. On Wednesday, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Rod Woodson spoke about Hunter’s prospects during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show.” Woodson, who played more than a decade as a defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, cautioned that Hunter’s experience in Jacksonville is unlikely to mirror his collegiate career at Colorado.
“He’s not going to play like he did in college,” Woodson said. “Could he get to that point? Maybe. But 85, 90 snaps a game for 17 weeks? That’s a tough ask on your body.”
Woodson referenced Deion Sanders‘ decision to allow Hunter to play both ways in college as an exception rather than a rule among professional coaches. “He was very blessed to be with a head coach who let him play both ways in Prime (…) But coaches in this league? They’re not Prime. They didn’t play both ways,” Woodson explained.
As Hunter begins his NFL journey, concerns about his ability to keep up with such a demanding workload are heightened by recent reports of injury. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Hunter will miss Jacksonville’s preseason finale against Miami due to an upper-body issue. Head coach Liam Coen described the move as precautionary so that Hunter can be ready for Week One against Carolina.
In his first appearance earlier this month against Pittsburgh, Hunter logged nineteen snaps—ten on offense where he made two receptions for nine yards—and saw additional action on defense. Coaches commented positively on his route running but also noted a missed tackle when playing coverage.
While flashes of potential were visible during his limited snaps, many questions remain regarding whether or not such two-way usage is sustainable throughout a full National Football League season.
