One of the most anticipated events has taken place. The Jacksonville Jaguars began organized team activities, and Trevor Lawrence got to practice with Travis Hunter for the first time ever. While their connection is a work in progress, No. 16 is thrilled about what the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner brings to the table.
Lawrence met with the local media following Day 1 of OTAs and said that Hunter is as good as advertised, pointing out that he didn't know just how explosive he was.
"I mean, I know you haven't seen a ton of them. Just, yeah, got a lot of juice," Lawrence told the local press. "Like he can run all day. A lot of energy. I love it. Good Energy. Always dapping guys up, just bringing juice every day. Like I said, high motor. Can just go. It's like a kid just runs around all day. He doesn't get tired, it seems like. So you can't have enough of that. And then as far as just talent, I mean, kind of speaks for itself. Ball skills, run after the catch. He's very explosive.
Lawrence continued, "Just didn't realize how explosive he was in and out of cuts, you know, he's impressive to watch, and we've gotten to connect a couple times. It's only going to keep getting better and better. We've only worked together for days now, so we got some time to really dial in on the details, building relationships with the receivers,"
This is the first time Lawrence connected with Hunter, so it's not particularly shocking to see that their connection needs a bit of work. During one rep in 11-on-11 drills, the fifth-year quarterback got picked up because he overthrew Hunter.
Similarly, Lawrence threw a pass a bit ahead. Hunter still caught it, but there's no doubt that they'll need to hone their connection. Working in their favor is that they'll have ample time before the regular season starts. Here's another clip of the two, the team posted on social media.
The Jaguars added Travis Hunter to Trevor Lawrence's arsenal, but he won't be his only weapon
The Jaguars did a poor job of putting Trevor Lawrence in a position to succeed in recent years, but the new regime has wasted no time getting him as much help as needed. Aside from beefing up the offensive line to ensure he's got optimal protection, it made upgrades to his arsenal of weapons.
Back in free agency, the Jags signed Dyami Brown, who was a dynamic weapon for the Washington Commanders during their playoff run. But that was just the beginning. In the NFL Draft, they made a bold trade for the No. 2 overall pick, which they used to select Travis Hunter.
Last year, Thomas was Lawrence's true weapon. With Hunter and Brown in the fold, he'll have no shortage of talent in 2025. Now, he'll need to do his part and lead the team to the promised land (staying healthy would go a long way).
The Jacksonville Jaguars are somewhat of an afterthought after finishing 4-13 last year. However, they have enough pieces in places, including Travis Hunter, to make you think that maybe, just maybe, they will take the NFL by surprise in 2025.
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