After a headline-making weekend that saw him marry longtime girlfriend Leanna Lenee and surprise a young fan at a backyard workout, Hunter was back on the field Tuesday for the Jacksonville Jaguars fourth OTA. And this time, he wasn’t just catching passes.
He was lining up on defense.
Yes, the two-way star from Colorado has officially started taking defensive reps during OTAs, as confirmed by Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile in a report by 1010 XL / 92.5 FM in Jacksonville. Campanile added that Hunter won’t be playing offense and defense during the same practice
He also mentioned that any decisions regarding Hunter’s role on gameday will ultimately fall to head coach Liam Coen.
Hunter’s transition to the NFL is being managed carefully
Hunter spent Tuesday working primarily with the offense. But according to the Jaguars coaching staff, he got his first defensive reps last week—and impressed immediately.
“He's a special guy cause he's a really, really bright guy. All the coaches have been impressed,” Campanile said with a smile. "He's pretty good. Fired up to have him out there."
That’s an understatement. If you’ve watched even five minutes of Hunter’s tape at Colorado, you know he’s far more than "pretty good."
The challenge now isn’t ability. It’s sustainability. Jacksonville isn’t looking to wear him down in June—they’re playing the long game. This is smart.
“We’re trying to make the transition as seamless as possible,” Campanile said. “We’re not rushing it.”
That probably means a divided schedule: offensive reps one day, defensive reps the next. It’s a far cry from the all-gas-no-brakes model we saw at Colorado. This is the right approach at this level. The Jaguars want Hunter fresh and focused when the season starts.
There’s also a method to how they’re feeding him reps. Hunter is still raw, particularly on offense where NFL route trees, timing, and physicality take time to adjust to.
Still, the staff clearly believes in his potential. Trevor Lawrence nearly connected with Hunter on a sideline throw during 7-on-7s—a highlight-worthy attempt that saw Travis contort his body midair in a near catch. It didn’t land, but it turned heads.
The Jaguars see Hunter as a long-term asset. He’s not being tossed into packages for media buzz—but it is exciting that he’s being developed into a two-way player for Jacksonville.
And they’re doing it the right way.
We’re still early in the process, but the foundation is being laid in Jacksonville—and if you’ve followed his journey, you know how much this moment means to him.
We should be proud. The two-way dream is alive and well in Jacksonville.
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