So far, Travis Hunter has been everything the Jacksonville Jaguars bargained for and then some. The former Colorado standout has had no trouble making the adjustment to the NFL. Not surprisingly, he garnered rave reviews throughout the offseason program. One thing that's stood out about him is his energy, something that has caught the attention of veteran players.
Arik Armstead made an appearance on First Thing First to discuss several topics. The subject of Travis Hunter came up, and said that he's impressed with what he's seen so far from his rookie teammate.
"Yeah, that seemed impossible until you're around Travis, really. And I think one of the most impressive things about him is he's out there, he's doing, it's hot in Jacksonville. Like we're sweating, and this dude doesn't break a sweat," Armstead said when host Chris Broussard asked if Hunter can truly succeed at playing two ways (2:34 mark). "You look at him, he's smooth, he's very elastic. Everything just comes natural to him, just a natural-born athlete.
Armstead continued, "And when you look at playing both sides of the football, you know his schedule is crazy. It's like two days he's on offense, and he comes over, and then he pops up in our defensive meeting, and he's out there with our colored jersey on, and first day he's playing defense, makes a crazy interception, and then goes on offense, scoring touchdowns. So I'm really excited to have him as a teammate, and he brings a lot to Jacksonville, not just who he is as a player, but who he is as a person. He's bringing a lot of excitement to the city, and people want to, want to watch him play."
Armstead is far from the only Jaguar who's heaped praise on Hunter. Trevor Lawrence also said that he's impressed with his energy and the explosiveness the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner brings.
There have been questions about Hunter's ability to play two ways full-time in the NFL. Before the draft, his former head coach, Deion Sanders, said the West Palm Beach native wouldn't have an issue with the transition because of the slower tempo in the pros and his superb conditioning. So far, he's proven right.
The Jaguars are pleased with Travis Hunter's development so far
Aside from a rough practice early in the offseason, Travis Hunter has been nothing short of exceptional. The Jacksonville Jaguars began his onboarding at wide receiver because of the complexities of the position, but he was also attending defensive meetings from the get-go. By mandatory minicamp, he was already getting reps at cornerback.
Of course, there's still a bit of time before the regular season starts, and the Jaguars will need to continue adjusting Travis Hunter's practice time so he's ready for the opener. Having said that, all signs point toward him making an impact on both offense and defense as a rookie.
Here are other Jaguars stories you may also like: