“Travis brings that energy to the rookie class.” Jaguars had proclaimed boldly to the world. But behind the bare-toothed grin is a player with big dreams and bigger demands. Travis Hunter didn’t just want to stick to one place—he wanted to play everywhere. The 2024 Heisman winner warned teams before the draft: don’t box him in, or he would quit football. Now, with Jaguars coach Liam Coen sticking him in a lane, that dream may already be slipping.

An injury specialist account on X rehashed intel on the top Jaguars’ rookie. In a thread titled “Small pieces of intel on what I know (or perceive) about key 2025 rookies: A Mueller Injury Report Thread,” the No. 2 spot featured Jacksonville’s newest wildcard: Travis Hunter. The post read, “Travis Hunter is primarily a WR, per Gladstone & Coen. He will ‘ease in’ to defensive snaps. I believe this means he will play 65-80% WR snaps & be schemed up a TON when on the field.” 

Yes, that’s Coen’s roadmap for the double-threat he has scooped this Draft season. In an interview, Coach Liam Coen was asked about Hunter’s starting position in the Jaguars. His answer: “We’ll have a plan right now of [him playing] primarily on offense, with him learning the defensive system and practicing on the defensive side of the ball as well throughout this offseason program…” That sounds like the team is still figuring out how to juggle his two-position identity without overloading him or sparking friction between vision and execution. But this puts the war room in two different minds. 

And maybe that explains why Travis Hunter stirred the pot before the draft. He made waves with a drastic statement: he’d quit football altogether if a team didn’t let him play both ways. “It’s never playing football again,” Hunter told CBS Sports. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.” That’s not just passion—that’s purpose.

Even if the Jaguars can’t fully grant his larger-than-life wishes, they’re not hiding how much they value him. They’re saying it loud. “Travis Hunter is a rare player, rare person,” said GM Gladstone. “That combination in some way, shape or form makes it fairly easy. At the same time, I understand the gravity of a decision of that magnitude. It’s not without careful thought, careful consideration and a collective buy-in.” Translation? They know they’re dealing with a unicorn, and they’re willing to think big.

Travis Hunter carrying on the Colorado number

The Jaguars are going full steam ahead with Travis Hunter. His jersey number reveal—No. 12—felt almost poetic. That’s the same number he retired at Colorado. Now, will he wear it into retirement as a Jaguar legend? The announcement dropped just three days before rookie minicamp, with the Jaguars posting a video of Hunter on Instagram grinning widely in his new No. 12 threads. Is it the start of something big? Maybe. But let’s not forget—this pick wasn’t without pressure.

Drafting Hunter was a high-stakes move. The Jaguars snatched him from every team watching. They traded up with the Browns to take him at No. 2. Hunter plays both WR and CB at a high level. Maybe that’s the spark Jacksonville needs after the disappointing 2024 season, when they finished 9-8. They lost five of their last six games. No playoffs. With Hunter, they’re betting on a fresh start.

And he didn’t come cheap. Hunter enters the league on a projected four-year, $46.5 million rookie deal, including a jaw-dropping $30.5 million signing bonus. There’s also a team option for a fifth year. That price tag? It’s backed by Hunter’s electric college resume. In Colorado, he posted 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. On defense, he added 4 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and a forced fumble that sealed an overtime win against Baylor. That’s dominance on both sides.

Travis made big waves in college football—highlight reels, headlines, and hardware. Now, he’s on the doorstep of the big league. Now, with all eyes on Jacksonville, the question shifts: Can the kid in No. 12 do it all at the next level?