Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year and Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jared Verse was recently on the “Rich Eisen Show,” and he shared a head-turning opinion on whether or not he believes Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter can successfully play both ways at the next level.
Jared Verse Has Doubts About Travis Hunter Playing Both Ways
In the clip, Eisen starts by talking to Verse about his football journey, dating back to high school, playing tight end and defensive end before moving on to play college football with the Albany Great Danes from 2019 to 2021. He finished off his college career with Florida State before becoming the No. 19 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
From there, he asks Verse his opinion on Hunter playing both ways at the NFL level.
“Well, before we move on then, since you just mentioned about offense and defense, you got any two cents on Travis Hunter and what he can do in the NFL? Now that you’ve been in the NFL for a season, knowing what it takes to be a professional at such a high level, and it being a different game, maybe in the professional level? Do you have any opinion on him being able to play as many snaps on both sides of the ball as we saw in Colorado?”
Verse had previously mentioned playing two ways in high school, and as the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, who better to ask about the preparation for playing just one side of the ball at a high level?
“See, I’m not gonna lie, playing both ways is something I genuinely could never do. Seeing that’s probably impossible, and like I know, like, the league is a lot different than college. College you can take a snap off here. College you can take a snap off there. You can’t do that in the league,” Verse begins.
Wait, #RamsHouse DPOY @JaredVerse1 wants to play offense?!
Travis Hunter has started the new trend!#NFL pic.twitter.com/aNbVllWhcF
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) May 9, 2025
In 2024, Hunter played in 120 snaps or more in 10 games. In all, he played in 1,552 snaps. He dealt with some injuries, but he had snaps in the slot and out wide as a receiver, playing in the box, as both a slot and outside cornerback, and even one snap at free safety.
“But, it’s Travis Hunter we talkin’ about. I ain’t gonna lie, he’s a dawg, the way his body moves, the way he acts, the way he fundamentally is built is just different than most people. So, hey, if he can do it in college at the high level he was doin’ it and he can replicate in the NFL I don’t see no reason not to.”
From there, Eisen asks more specifically about meetings and other team requirements that he’ll need to deal with as well.
“It’ll definitely be a lot on him,” Verse begins.
“It’ll be strenuous in every position, in every aspect of it, but you are increasing your value when you do it that way, like, if I could, I would be playing offense and defense because, hey, I love scoring touchdowns, I love gettin’ sacks, but that’s too much on my body.”
That’s certainly something to consider. In the NFL, Hunter will be playing a level of competition that’ll be more physically demanding than the Big 12. It could take a toll on his body that he may not even be aware of just yet.
“Him, if he can do that, then, hey, more power to him if he can do it, but it’s gonna be a lot, I’m not gonna lie.”
We won’t know until the season begins, but we know that Jaguars first-year head coach Liam Coen has said that Hunter will “play primarily on offense to start.”
The “to start” is important, but based on Verse’s comments, Hunter has a tall hill to climb to successfully play both ways at the NFL level.