Two-way star Travis Hunter has been everything the Jacksonville Jaguars envisioned when they drafted him second overall. That's why nobody should bat an eye about the fact that he got an endorsement from NFL legend Jerry Rice. What's noteworthy is that musician Lil Wayne has heaped praise on the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
Heading into the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Lil Wayne made an appearance on SportsCenter and said that he's hyped up to watch Hunter take the field, pointing out that the Jaguars rookie is amazing.
"The kid is, he's, you know, and I know you all the everybody says unique. He's this. He's the kid is amazing," Lil Wayne said when asked about his connection with Hunter. "I compare it to like meeting, when you meet like a four or five-year-old, and you automatically [say], 'Oh, that's a genius.' Sure. They do something like, right there, like, I don't even know what that was."
Later in the exchange, Lil Wayne revealed that Hunter didn't use to listen to his music, but once he did, he took an interest in it.
"It's a blessing. It's a total blessing. And when he says he listened to my music, that's he listens to the music right, he's not hearing it. He listens to it. So when he sees me, he always has a question about a verse, about a bar. 'What do you mean when you said this, on this part, on this song, right?' Like I said that? So he's studying tape and he's studying the lyrics," Lil Wayne said.
Hunter signed to Lil Wayne's Young Money APAA Sports agency late in 2024. That's how the two know each other.
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Lil Wayne believes Travis Hunter will have success playing two ways for the Jaguars
Head coach Liam Coen announced that all Jaguars players will be suiting up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 of the preseason, adding that Travis Hunter will be playing two ways. When asked about it, Lil Wayne said that the former Colorado Buffalo will find success, pointing out that it comes naturally to him.
"It's innate. It's innate for him. It's what he does. It's what he's been doing his whole life. I mean, ever since he's been playing football. It's what he, defense, and offense. Indeed, that's what he do. So I believe, like, you know, shorting him or taking it, or cutting it out, or however we want to word it, you'll be trying to change him, and we don't want that," Lil Wayne noted.
He's onto something. Hunter has had no trouble making the transition to the pros and handling everything Jacksonville has thrown at him. The West Palm Beach, Florida native has begun to practice on both sides of the ball since the Jaguars mock game and has fared well.
Against the Steelers, Hunter will be one step closer to becoming the first player in the modern NFL era to play two ways full-time.
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