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Michael DiRocco
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Underneath the lights at EverBank Stadium throughout a scrimmage final Friday evening, Jacksonville Jaguars rookie receiver Travis Hunter jogged off the sphere, waited out a play, after which headed to the other sideline. He took off his teal No. 12 jersey and placed on a white counterpart.
5 performs later, he jogged again onto the sphere and lined up at cornerback.
These moments marked the primary time Hunter performed either side of the ball throughout an NFL observe. He had 4 catches for 43 yards on 17 offensive snaps and performed 21 snaps on protection. It’ll change into a daily prevalence because the Jaguars proceed preparations to make him the NFL’s first common two-way participant because the Sixties.
And thus far, every thing goes precisely because the Jaguars — and Hunter — have deliberate.
“They really belief me,” Hunter stated. “They put so much on my plate, however I simply must go on the market and proceed to assault the work that they provide me.”
There was a number of work. Apart from the scrimmage, Hunter has practiced solely on one aspect of the ball or the opposite. Throughout particular groups durations, nonetheless, he works with coaches from the opposite aspect, and he has rotated between offensive and defensive conferences.
It is a schedule that coach Liam Coen and the workers have meticulously deliberate.
“One interval, he could also be with us, the subsequent interval, he is with them,” defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile stated. “Some days, he could begin on protection, then he is working [on] offense. He is executed a very good job with that, and I feel Liam’s executed an excellent job coordinating that.”
Via two weeks of coaching camp, Hunter has dealt with his two-way position nicely. His teammates and coaches admire the psychological and bodily dedication that he has delivered to his distinctive position. His subsequent step? Determining the way to do each in an NFL sport. The primary glimpse of which may are available Saturday’s first preseason sport (7 p.m. ET) in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“It has been demanding on him, however he is responded in each method,” Campanile stated.
HUNTER PRACTICED ON either side of the ball on daily basis at Colorado, however he stated he likes the Jaguars’ strategy of beginning him on offense within the spring after which giving him defensive days in camp earlier than easing him right into a rotational position in practices. Studying the offense and protection is a a lot harder job mentally than the bodily a part of enjoying each methods.
“You’ve gotten two playbooks and you need to do totally different phrases each day,” Hunter stated.
Are there moments when he is somewhat not sure or confused on the sphere? In fact, however “each rookie experiences that,” cornerback Jourdan Lewis stated.
“He is simply so comfy,” Lewis stated. “He is assured in what he does. He is aware of the highlight’s on him. He simply goes on the market and handles enterprise.”
Hunter has labored solely at exterior nook, and at this level, there are not any plans for him to maneuver inside to nickel, a spot that Lewis will play when the Jaguars have 5 defensive backs on the sphere.
Receiver Brian Thomas Jr. stated Hunter’s greatest space of progress since he arrived because the No. 2 choose has been in his data of the offense.
“Having the ability to go on the market and execute the performs and figuring out the ins and outs,” Thomas stated. “Simply being in his playbook, studying the playbook, figuring out what he has, not having to second-guess himself or assume twice about what he has. That is in all probability the largest factor.”
Although Hunter performed each methods in his three seasons in faculty, there was some concern about overloading him. However that hasn’t occurred, Campanile stated.
“You see him doing the additional work out right here with [secondary coach Ron Milus] and [defensive backs coach Anthony Perkins], so, he is actually benefiting from the assembly time and the on-field time with these guys,” Campanile stated. “I name them the ft meets or the walk-throughs. He is actually doing an excellent job focusing.”
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HUNTER HOOKED UP with quarterback Trevor Lawrence for a landing in a latest crimson zone drill, leaping and reaching over Lewis to snag the ball in the long run zone and nonetheless getting each ft in bounds. Lewis had good protection, however Hunter made a big-time play on the ball.
That is one of many issues about Hunter that has stood out to cornerback Tyson Campbell.
“Simply how fast he’s and the way shifty he’s,” Campbell stated. “He will get to his spot and Trevor is ready to put it wherever, and he is athletic sufficient to succeed in out and go get it.
“His ball abilities are undoubtedly one thing that catches your eye.”
Stated Coen after the scrimmage: “I imply, you guys noticed it. Fairly cool in area, is not he?”
It is not shocking that Hunter is sweet with the ball in his fingers. He received the Heisman Trophy final season after catching 15 landing passes and intercepting 4 passes. Nevertheless, regardless of Hunter averaging 113.9 snaps per sport for the Buffaloes in 2024, his stage of conditioning nonetheless shocks his teammates and coaches.
“That is unbelievably uncommon,” offensive coordinator Grant Udinski stated. “I do not know that I’ve seen something prefer it, with that stage of conditioning earlier than. Clearly, he is anticipated to do one thing that I’ve not seen one other participant do, that none of us have seen earlier than. It’s as soon as once more a testomony to his work, his coaching within the warmth in the summertime, to have the ability to come out right here and do that.
“It’s sizzling. No joke. There are guys out right here struggling to simply do one, and he is doing a number of issues, juggling various things mentally, bodily. It is a testomony to his work. The conditioning is certainly obvious.”
Lewis described Hunter’s stage of conditioning as “totally different.”
“Quite a lot of occasions guys get drained on one aspect of the ball and he is concentrating his power on either side of the ball,” Lewis stated. “It should be robust, particularly being his first time within the NFL, however I feel he has it.
“He has to do it.”
Which is what Hunter has been telling everybody since his faculty profession ended.
“It is like, I am already doing all this further work,” Hunter stated. “You are going to maintain telling me I can not do the identical factor that I have been doing and exhibiting you? … I’ll simply be quiet and go to work.”
SATURDAY’S PRESEASON OPENER in opposition to the Steelers at EverBank Stadium is arguably probably the most anticipated preseason sport because the staff’s inaugural preseason opener in opposition to Carolina in 1995 — due to Hunter.
Coen has not but introduced if Hunter will play on either side of the ball and for a way lengthy, however after doing so in what Coen referred to as a “mock sport” final week, it is logical that Hunter will.
The Jaguars must undergo the mechanics of Hunter lacking time on the sideline. For instance, the offense will meet with coaches and speak by changes whereas the protection is on the sphere, but when Hunter is on the sphere on protection, will he have sufficient time to soak up these adjustments earlier than he goes again on the sphere with the offense?
It would fall to his place coach — Edgar Bennett — to offer him a crash course when Hunter will get again on the sideline. And the identical when it is flipped and he misses defensive changes, with Milus and Perkins.
The great factor: At the least he will not have to alter his jersey, which can purchase him a few minutes.
There’s additionally the matter of how a lot to play Hunter within the preseason. Recreation reps are beneficial for rookies, however he’ll doubtless get extra as a result of he’ll be enjoying each methods.
However, as Coen has repeatedly stated, it is necessary to be fluid with how they deal with Hunter, and they’re going to proceed to do this.