The debate around Travis Hunter's future role has followed him from college football into the NFL. A season-ending knee injury during his rookie year with the Jacksonville Jaguars only intensified questions about whether playing both offense and defense is sustainable at the professional level. Yet for one person who knows Hunter better than almost anyone in football, the conversation remains surprisingly simple. Deion Sanders, who coached Hunter at Colorado and championed his two-way talent throughout his college career, made it clear this week that he sees little reason to revisit a formula that helped produce one of the most unique players in recent football history.
Should Travis Hunter still play both offense and defense in the NFL?
Sanders has never hidden his belief in Hunter's rare skill set. Long before the 2025 NFL Draft, he openly challenged teams that might consider limiting Hunter to one position. Even after the Jaguars rookie suffered a serious knee injury midway through his first season, Sanders remains unmoved by the criticism surrounding the two-way experiment.
Speaking with DJ Siddiqi of Covers during an exclusive interview, Sanders brushed aside suggestions that Hunter should finally choose one side of the ball. “There’s no comparison to what he’s able to produce on the field,” Sanders said. “It’s no comparison. I can’t say who I would compare him to, because I would be lessening that person. That’s not fair to him or the people that I’m comparing him to. He’s different, man.”
For Sanders, Hunter's résumé already answers the question. The former Colorado star became a national phenomenon by excelling as both a receiver and defensive back, culminating in a Heisman Trophy season that redefined expectations for modern college football players.
When pressed on whether Hunter should narrow his focus, Sanders offered an answer that reflected both confidence and frustration with the ongoing discussion. “They’re not going to ask me, ‘I thank God that you’re asking me’. The kid won the Heisman Trophy playing both sides of the ball,” Sanders told Siddiqi. “That’s all I gotta say on that.”
How is Travis Hunter progressing during Jaguars OTAs?
While the debate continues outside the building, Jacksonville's focus is firmly on Hunter's recovery and development. The Jaguars selected him with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, viewing his versatility as a potential game-changing asset.
Hunter spent much of the past year rehabbing after the injury ended his rookie campaign. Now, as Jacksonville works through offseason activities ahead of the 2026 season, signs of progress are beginning to emerge.
Head coach Liam Coen recently explained how the team has used technology to accelerate Hunter's football development even while physical limitations remained part of his recovery process. “All you see is the linebackers, the D-line, and the offense, and so he can go in there in a half hour and play a game and just go,” Coen said. “Right now, you’re not going to be able to get a ton of all the routes and how they play out, but alignment, assignment, making calls, and adjustments to formations have been so valuable to him.”
The update suggests Jacksonville's investment extends beyond Hunter's athletic gifts. Even while sidelined, the Jaguars have continued building his understanding of the game from multiple perspectives. For a player whose value comes from seeing football differently than most, that development may prove just as important as his return to full health.
