As dynamic as two-way star Travis Hunter may turn out to be in the NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars were aware that he was going to go through a learning curve in his transition to the pros. Former Pro Bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant knows firsthand how tough the adjustment is, so it wasn't surprising to see him come to the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner's defense during a recent exchange on social media.
Bryant recently asked on social media to rate Hunter for his playmaking ability in response to another message asking to grade his route-running skills.
The truth is that the West Palm Beach native doesn't look particularly great, but this was the first time he practiced with veteran players after being drafted second overall, so some sluggishness is expected. Having said that, that's particularly shocking or a reason for concern.
After all, players can win with talent and athleticism alone at the collegiate level, but need to refine their skills to thrive in the NFL. Circling back to Bryant's post, someone mentioned that Hunter stumbled on breaks and was slow on the cornerback. His response was that "routes on air is meaningless," and what truly matters is what he can do with the football in his hands.
Again, Hunter looked unrefined, but it's too early to press the panic button. Heck, head coach Liam Coen was unfazed about his struggles, precisely because it was Day 1 of Organized Team Activities.
"I think so far so good," Coen responded when asked how Hunter is taking on all the information. "I mean, he had a couple missed assignments today that he knew right away. He came off the grass and took accountability for him. The one thing you notice is a guy that hasn't played a ton of football, or, you know, been out conditioning maybe for the last two months because he was on a little bit of a tour.
Coen continued, "The guy can run forever. I mean, it just kind of goes, runs around, runs back, runs. I mean, you could tell he's in football shape, and he was, you know, he's done a nice job. Edgar Barrett, the coaches, Ron Miles, those guys have done a great job meeting with him when they've had time to do so, and Travis has worked hard at getting this stuff right."
Below is Coen's full exchange with the local media. His remarks about Hunter start at the 16:19 mark.
Why Travis Hunter not looking crisp now is great for the Jaguars long-term
Liam Coen is right when he says that Travis Hunter didn't get the chance to focus on football the past few months because he was in the middle of the draft process, traveling and meeting with teams. With that out of the way, he can now work on his craft and prepare for the regular season.
And that's the thing, Hunter might be a bit rough around the edges right now, but that's actually a good thing. As dominant and electrifying as he is right now, imagine how much of a game-changer he'll be once he fully grasps the nuances of playing receiver and cornerback at the NFL level. Not for nothing, he was the highest-rated prospect in this year's draft class, regardless of the position.
Ultimately, players' readiness is always variable coming out of college, but the Jacksonville Jaguars know that he'll become the sport-altering player they envisioned once he hits his stride.
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