Travis Hunter is being hailed as an NFL 'unicorn,' but can he deliver a breakout performance in London? The Jacksonville Jaguars are betting big on this unique talent, but the question remains: can he truly excel playing both offense and defense at the highest level?
The NFL 2025 season is heating up, and Week Seven promises excitement, especially for fans tuning in to watch the Los Angeles Rams face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley (from 14:00 BST) on BBC Sport's website and app with live text commentary. Radio listeners can catch the Indianapolis Colts versus the Los Angeles Chargers (from 21:00 BST) on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds (https://www.bbc.com/programmes/m002l45j).
In a league increasingly defined by specialization, Travis Hunter is attempting something truly extraordinary. Just six games into his pro career, he's already earned the moniker of an NFL "unicorn" – a player so rare and exceptional that he defies easy categorization. What makes him so special? He's playing significant snaps on both offense and defense, a feat unseen in the NFL for at least 30 years!
Hunter, fresh off being named college football's top performer, made his intentions clear before the draft: he wanted to continue as a full-time two-way player. This ambition resonated with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who made a bold move by trading up to select him with the second overall pick (https://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/articles/cn8vq77xqzxo). General Manager James Gladstone even suggested that the 22-year-old has the potential to "alter the trajectory of the sport." That's high praise indeed!
So far, Hunter's progress has been steady, contributing to the Jaguars' 4-2 start. However, he hasn't yet fully unleashed his playmaking potential on both sides of the ball. But here's where it gets interesting: with the Jaguars now in London for the final game of this year's international series, the stage is perfectly set for Hunter to showcase his incredible talent under the iconic Wembley arch. Will he rise to the occasion?
The Challenge of a Two-Way Player: A Modern Experiment
Historically, the NFL has pushed two-way players towards specializing in a single position, largely because the demands of playing both offense and defense are considered unsustainable. The physical toll is immense, and mastering one position alone requires years of dedicated focus.
The Jaguars are essentially writing the playbook as they go, as there's no recent precedent for developing a player like Hunter. Managing his workload is a constant balancing act. Head coach Liam Coen revealed that even during their flight from Florida, he and his staff were discussing tweaks to Hunter's schedule. They are essentially building the plane while flying it.
"Every day it's a great challenge for us," Coen explained. "His position coaches, athletic trainers, media - everybody has to be involved in the process." He emphasized the importance of supporting a player with Hunter's passion and work ethic. "When you're working with a guy that just loves football, loves to work, loves to play, you really want to help people like that." Coen is optimistic about Hunter's continued growth, stating, "I think he's somebody who'll continue to get better each week and it has been a fun challenge so far."
To date, Hunter's contributions include 15 tackles and two pass breakups as a cornerback on defense, along with 20 receptions for 197 yards as a wide receiver on offense. While quarterback Trevor Lawrence has targeted Brian Thomas Jr. more frequently, and Thomas and Brenton Strange have more receiving yards, the Jaguars are actively designing more plays specifically to feature Hunter as Lawrence's primary target.
"It's our job to make sure we're scheming him open, putting him in positions to be the number one [option] more often," Coen said. "When he is, we've got to identify it and find him, and he's got to be in the right spot at the tight time."
The Quarterback-Receiver Connection: The Key to Unlocking Hunter's Potential
Hunter's most impressive play so far was a spectacular 44-yard catch over two defenders in the week five victory against the Kansas City Chiefs (https://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/articles/cx2xzk1nn0qo). This play wasn't just luck; it was the result of dedicated practice after an initial miscommunication.
Lawrence highlighted Hunter's commitment, saying, "There's not many guys who are willing to do that after a hard practice, run eight 50-yard routes back-to-back until we get it right." He praised Hunter's relentless work ethic, emphasizing that it's "great for me as a quarterback."
Their relationship is paramount. Lawrence, the first overall draft pick in 2021 and the Jaguars' franchise quarterback (https://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/articles/c888eev2e7no), hopes to have Hunter as a target "for a long time."
"There's a lot of conversations that go into each week, every gameplan, trying to get dialled in so that we are on the same page and have that chemistry," Lawrence explained. "That's so important for a quarterback and wide receiver." He acknowledged the challenge of consistently involving Hunter, stating, "I'm finding more ways to get him the ball. Sometimes we might not get him as many touches as we want, the game unfolds differently, but we're consistently trying because he's so special when he gets opportunities downfield or just catches the ball underneath."
Lawrence also emphasized Hunter's ability to make plays after the catch: "He can make people miss [tackles] and turn five-yard passes into 25-yard gains because he's so good with the ball in his hands. He has so much talent."
Balancing Act: Managing Hunter's Snap Count
Through his first six games, Hunter has played 62.8% of the Jaguars' offensive snaps and 38.8% of their defensive snaps – just over half in total. This carefully managed workload is designed to maximize his impact while preventing burnout.
Deion Sanders, who famously played both cornerback and receiver (most notably in 1996) and was Hunter's college coach at Colorado and Jackson State, believes the Jaguars are underutilizing him. "I've seen it every day for three straight years," Sanders told the Kelce brothers' New Heights podcast. "I know what he's capable of, and I know how you've got to take care of him." And this is the part most people miss... Sanders' intimate knowledge of Hunter's abilities arguably gives his opinion significant weight.
However, NFL analyst Ryan Clark has a different perspective. He believes the Jaguars should prioritize Hunter's development as a cornerback, gradually integrating him into the offense. "He will be more impactful full-time on one side than moonlighting on both," Clark wrote on X.
Hunter's snap count has fluctuated throughout the season. He played more on defense in weeks two and three, but his defensive snaps were limited in week four due to a shoulder issue and again in week five as veteran Montaric Brown's playing time increased.
Beyond the Field: A Year of Transformation
2024 has been a monumental year for Hunter off the field as well. He got married in May, became a father in August, and was recently baptized before last Sunday's loss to Seattle.
"It means a lot," he said after the game. "I'm becoming a better man, leaving my old flesh and becoming the new Travis."
When asked on Wednesday what he hopes the 'new Travis' will be, he replied, "Just respectful, kind, always loyal to my people. Being up front and straightforward, a family person."
On the field, Hunter understands the importance of patience as he chases his first NFL touchdown or interception this Sunday.
"I've just got to let the game come to me," he said. "Coach has been trying to dial up a couple of things for me, I've just got to continue to work and have the guys trust me because I'm doing my job every time."
The final verdict? Travis Hunter's journey is just beginning, and his success hinges on the Jaguars' ability to effectively manage his unique skillset. But here's where it gets controversial... Is it even possible to excel at two demanding positions in the modern NFL, or is Hunter destined to eventually specialize? Deion Sanders clearly thinks Hunter can do more than he is now, while Ryan Clark advises him to focus on defense. Who's right?
What do you think? Can Travis Hunter truly become the NFL's first successful two-way player in decades, or is the league simply too specialized for such a feat? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Do you agree with Deion Sanders that the Jaguars should be using Hunter more, or do you think Ryan Clark's approach of focusing on defense makes more sense? Let's discuss!
