What Does the NFL’s Two-Way Prodigy Need to Break Out?
When two-way athlete out of Colorado, Travis Hunter, entered the NFL, fans expected a performance similar to that of superstar athlete Shohei Ohtani of Major League Baseball. However, Hunter has not been much of a star that fans were expecting, with limited immediate impact through his first six games as a professional. Some outsiders blame this lack of production on coaching, while others blame the increased surrounding talent in the NFL rather than college as a more difficult playing field for Hunter. Nonetheless, Hunter has to produce more sooner than later, as a slow start doesn’t look good for anyone in Jacksonville. That brings us to the debate that has surrounded the Jaguars. What does Travis Hunter need to break out and make a statement?
Well, Hunter could be getting that opportunity this week against the Los Angeles Rams in London. Head coach Liam Coen said that Hunter will become the first option in more offensive schemes to emphasize his speed and athleticism, which will ultimately give Hunter more targets and opportunities to create big plays. Hunter is coming off his worst week yet, with only 15 yards against the Seattle Seahawks. With Brian Thomas Jr. struggling in 2025, making Hunter a top option can only improve the Jaguars' offense as a whole and take pressure off Thomas to perform. This can make both of them more successful and ultimately turn this Jaguars offense into one of the more elite units in the league.
Obviously, Hunter getting more opportunities is one way that his season can turn around and break out. However, Jacksonville won’t force the ball to Hunter just because they feel the need to. He will have to create the space and play himself downfield to give himself those passes, as quarterback Trevor Lawrence will have to determine what balls get thrown to the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner. Coen also said that an offense takes all offensive players on the field, not just one person, putting less emphasis on Hunter changing the offensive scheme moving forward. Hunter is also playing defensively, so wear-and-tear during these games can be impacting him differently than it did in college. If energy becomes a problem for Hunter to break out, he may have to end up choosing a side and sticking to it for the future.
