Jaguars Receive Travis Hunter Warning from 3x Super Bowl Winner Travis Kelce: “Teams Are Gonna Be Going After Him”

Travis Hunter has carved out a niche for himself as a dual threat athlete in college and he wants to continue doing that in the NFL.

Jaguars Receive Travis Hunter Warning from 3x Super Bowl Winner Travis Kelce: “Teams Are Gonna Be Going After Him”

Travis Kelce and Travis Hunter (Image via IMAGO)

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Even though Travis Kelce views Travis Hunter as a great athlete, he has doubts about whether the Jacksonville Jaguars rookie can play as a receiver on offense and a cornerback on defense in the NFL. Hunter is hell-bent on proving that it can be done at the highest level.

The 22-year-old conditioned himself to train more than 11 hours every day and then memorize the playbook in the remaining hours. The regimental-esque training method helped Hunter win the Heisman Trophy ahead of stud running back Ashton Jeanty in 2024.

Travis Kelce, with twelve NFL seasons and gearing up for his 13th, suggested that teams might restrict Hunter from playing his usual game despite his exceptional athletic ability.

[Hunter] 100% [is a] world-class athlete. … I saw him play basketball, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s an athlete. [But] both sides? That’s the thing; I don’t know how they’re going to divvy it out. I don’t know, because teams are gonna be going after him. They’re gonna try and make his day miserable.

Travis Kelce said on Barstool Sports’ Bussin’ With The Boys podcast

The NFL is vastly different from college ball. New Jaguars’ head coach Liam Coen may be taking charge of the squad for the first time in his life, but he has been part of some explosive offenses in the past, namely the Buccaneers and the Rams.

Sports Illustrated reported that Coen apparently focused on developing the offensive side of Hunter’s game during the OTAs. Ultimately, Coen will use Hunter’s skills to benefit the team.

Travis Kelce speculated on how NFL teams can stop Travis Hunter

Hunter caught 153 passes for over 1900 yards and 19 touchdowns as a receiver during his two-year stint at Colorado. That’s not all. He further contributed 66 tackles, 7 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss, and 11 pass deflections as a defensive back.

If he plays corner, [teams are] gonna run deep balls at him all day. They’re gonna run the wide receivers; just take off on him all day, just to try to get him tired. Why wouldn’t you just attack him that way?

Travis Kelce argued
Jaguars Receive Travis Hunter Warning from 3x Super Bowl Winner Travis Kelce: "Teams Are Gonna Be Going After Him"
Travis Hunter on day one of the 2024 draft (Image via IMAGO)

A healthy rivalry has been brewing between the veteran and the newbie since Kelce advised the Florida native that he won’t find it easy to play on both sides of the ball in the league.

He’s gonna have to prove that he can do it. Nobody has ever played every single play on both sides… In the NFL, they’ll have to scheme up around him getting too exhausted. They really have to weigh that into their play-calling, both offensively and defensively.

Kelce said on the New Heights podcast

Hunter replied that he would play both ways and prove Kelce and the other doubters wrong.

The Jaguars are scheduled to play three preseason games against the Steelers, Saints, and Dolphins before hosting the Carolina Panthers at home in week one. Hunter will get the chance to man-mark Kelce when the Chiefs travel to Jacksonville in week five.

KC, meanwhile, kicks off their redemption arc by traveling to Brazil in week one. They will play against divisional rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, on opening weekend.

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