Travis Hunter’s NFL future is back in the spotlight, and the latest push is simple: stop dividing the workload and let him live on defense.
ESPN’s Myron Medcalf made that case on Thursday, arguing that the Jacksonville Jaguars should use Hunter at cornerback full time. His point wasn’t subtle. In Medcalf’s view, Hunter’s defensive value is what can separate a decent season from a real postseason push.
Speaking on “First Take” Friday, Medcalf said:
"On defense, he's a superior playmaker. Like, to me, this is a team that's trying to get into the playoffs in advance.
Like, this is the guy who gets that interception in the third quarter for you. That changes the game.
This is the guy who forces the fumble in the fourth quarter that helps you advance in the playoffs. That's where you got to put Travis Hunter, because I think that to me is where he helps you win playoff games, which is what this team is trying to do."
Jacksonville is already headed in that direction. The Jaguars plan to lean on Hunter more heavily on defense in 2026, and a coach on Liam Coen’s staff has described that move as one driven by roster need, not as a judgment on Hunter’s ability as a receiver.
For now, the plan is for Hunter to be the team’s top cornerback for most of the season under defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. Campanile’s zone-heavy approach helped Jacksonville go from nine takeaways in 2024 to 31 last season, which ranked second in the NFL.
Hunter also bulked up this offseason, adding 10 to 12 pounds of muscle. The Jaguars believe that will help him play closer to the line of scrimmage and use the kind of anticipation that made him such a standout at Colorado.
His rookie season was interrupted by a torn LCL in Week 9, limiting him to 28 catches, 298 yards, one touchdown, three pass breakups and 15 tackles.
Hunter’s college profile is still the measuring stick for any future two-way experiment in Boulder. Colorado transfer defensive back Boo Carter is being looked at as a possible successor to that role under Deion Sanders, who coached Hunter to the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
Sanders said Carter, who came over from Tennessee, has the ability to help on offense, but the first priority is clear.
"He has to focus on dominating the defensive game and then we'll see about that," Sanders said.
Hunter’s 2024 production - 1,258 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions - remains the benchmark for any Buffaloes two-way player trying to follow in his footsteps.
In Other News...
Cam Little Is Suddenly Part Of A Wild New NFL Debate
Harrison Butkers 69-yard bomb in a 2026 preseason game added a fresh wrinkle to a very specific NFL conversation, even if it will not show up in the record book. Preseason kicks always come with an asterisk, but the moment still put a spotlight on the rarefied air Cam Little already occupies for Jacksonville, after drilling the longest official regular-season field goal in league history at 68 yards in 2025.
Littles mark now sits in an odd little pocket of the sport, because Butkers kick was longer but unofficial, and the distinction matters in a game where the line between exhibition and history is everything. Butker has been in Kansas City since 2017 and remains one of the most accurate kickers the league has ever seen, which only adds to the curiosity around where this distance debate could go next for a Jaguars team that already knows its kicker belongs in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Travis Hunter Gave Jaguars Fans A Wild Off Field Moment
Travis Hunter spent part of a recent police ride-along with Sheriff T.K. Waters getting a firsthand look at work far removed from the football field, as officers carried out a traffic stop that led to the recovery of a large quantity of illegal drugs. The scene offered a jarring reminder of what law enforcement deals with every day, and it also gave the Jaguars player a platform to speak directly to young viewers about avoiding drugs and making better choices.
Hunters off-field involvement has become part of the bigger picture around him as he heads toward his second NFL season, with the Jaguars continuing to see him as more than just a player preparing for Sundays. A ride-along like this does not come with box-score impact, but it does underline the kind of community presence he is building while staying visible in Jacksonville for reasons beyond football. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Loss Put A Few Surprise Roster Names In Focus
The Jaguars home preseason loss to the Panthers did not keep a few bubble players from making a case for themselves, and that is usually the part of August that matters most. Undrafted rookie Trebor Pena was among the most noticeable names on the field, leading Jacksonville in receptions and receiving yards while also finding the end zone, a useful reminder that the evaluation process is far from over even when the scoreboard goes the wrong way.
Jabbar Muhammad, listed on the second string, added six tackles in a busy showing on defense, while Ameer Abdullah topped the team in rushing yards and Michael Wortham was perfect when the ball came his way. Cam Little also handled his business, hitting all three of his field-goal tries, giving the Jaguars a few encouraging individual moments to sort through as they continue trimming the roster and deciding who is worth a closer look. [Read more 🡒]