Travis Hunter was a standout two-way player and a Heisman Trophy winner at the college level.
But in the NFL, well, that’s going to be a completely different beast — and Travis Kelce knows teams are going to go right after the Jaguars rookie.
During an episode of the “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast, the Chiefs’ tight end was asked about Hunter — a wideout and defensive back — and how his workload would be as a two-way player.
While Kelce said he didn’t know how the Jaguars would divide Hunter’s time, what the tight end did know was how teams will likely attack Hunter while he’s playing as a cornerback on defense.
“Teams are going to be going after him,” Kelce said. They’re going to try and make his day miserable. … “Dude, if he plays corner, they’re just going to run deep balls at him all day,” Kelce continued.
“The wide receivers just take off on him all day. Just to try to get him tired. Why wouldn’t you just attack him that way?”
Hunter, a two-time All-American at Colorado, shone as Division I’s best player this past season after reeling in a Big 12-best 96 catches and 13 touchdowns as a receiver, to go along with 36 tackles, 11 passes defended and four interceptions as a corner.
The Jaguars, at least to start, intend to use the talented Hunter as a two-way player.
During a hit on the “Rich Eisen Show” earlier this week, Jacksonville’s chief football strategy officer Tony Khan said how excited the team is to get Hunter going as a pro after trading up to select him at No. 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Absolutely, I think, like I said, [GM] James [Gladstone] had great points about Travis being somebody who would be a difference-maker on both sides of the ball that could contribute as a top receiver and as a top corner, and for us, I think [head coach Liam Coen has] got a great plan to integrate him,” Khan said.
“And knowing that going into the draft, and realizing, if you’re going to try to account for the trade value of a player, this is a very unique situation.”