Why Jaguars aren't giving up on Travis Hunter as Ohtani
The Jacksonville Jaguars are not abandoning Travis Hunter's two-way Shohei Ohtani vision. Coach Liam Coen still expects a huge impact, but Year 2 tilts toward cornerback because of roster depth, Hunter's recovery from a torn LCL, and a defense that needs a lockdown CB1 more than another full-time wideout.
Key Takeaways
- Jacksonville still wants Travis Hunter as a two-way threat, but camp snaps heavily favor cornerback over receiver.
- Hunter's rookie year ended after a Week 9 LCL tear, limiting him to seven games and modest production on both sides of the ball.
- Coen's staff cites depth-chart needs at corner and has Hunter preparing as the projected No. 1 cornerback in Anthony Campanile's zone scheme.
- Offensively, the Jaguars plan to pick his spots—especially money downs and the red zone—while keeping him ready if other receivers go down.
- Even elite athletes have limits: at joint practice, Hunter made just one of five 27-yard field-goal tries.
Why are the Jaguars shifting Travis Hunter toward cornerback?
According to The Athletic, Jacksonville expects Hunter to play more cornerback than receiver this season, framed as a nod to the depth chart rather than a verdict on his skills. The club needs more from the corner group after last year's Greg Newsome experiment ended in free agency following a playoff struggle against Buffalo.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's zone-based system should keep Hunter to a side of the field for much of the time, letting him face the line of scrimmage and attack the ball with anticipation—one of his standout traits. Hunter has added 10–12 pounds of muscle this offseason and has used the team's new virtual meeting room more than anyone, Coen said, to rebuild confidence after a long layoff.
How heavy is the defensive workload in camp?
Reporters covering the Jaguars say Hunter has practiced defense almost exclusively lately. On Monday he took zero 11-on-11 snaps on offense, per SI.com via NBC Sports. At Wednesday's joint practice with the Carolina Panthers, he played 28 defensive snaps and just two on offense, according to Garry Smits of The Florida Times-Union, as reported by NFL.com and NBC Sports.
Coen indicated that when Hunter comes off the field on defense, the staff would rather he keep taking mental defensive reps than flip to offense—another signal that Jacksonville sees his biggest early impact on that side. With Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers available, the offense has less immediate need for full-time Hunter snaps; Austin Trammell even took most slot work when Washington sat out Wednesday.
Is the Shohei Ohtani comparison still alive?
Yes—just with a different path. The Jaguars traded up to No. 2 in the 2025 draft for Hunter and once billed him as football's Ohtani, but his rookie season produced only 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown, plus three pass breakups and 15 tackles across an average of 69 snaps per game (46 offense, 23 defense). His year ended when he tore the LCL in his right knee during a Week 9 practice.
This year Coen wants less hype and more football: "We're really looking forward to seeing him just go play ball and let him do his thing." Offensively, look for designed touches plus early work in crucial situations, with an expanded role ready if Meyers, Washington, or Thomas Jr. miss time.
Matchups may still call for a more offensive tilt some weeks. The ultimate goal—two-way impact—hasn't changed. "We expect him," Coen said, "to really have a huge impact for our team."
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As a lighter footnote from the same joint practice: Hunter tried five placekicks from 27 yards, missed the first four badly, and finally connected on the fifth—proof even a two-way star has a skill ceiling.