Expectations are rising for the Jacksonville Jaguars following an exciting offseason. For rookie Travis Hunter, the sky is the limit for whom the Jaguars believe is the next face of the franchise.
The Jaguars are all in on the hype for Hunter, which was made clear when new general manager James Gladstone traded up to the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to secure the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
Not only do the Jaguars and their fans believe in Hunter and his two-way ability, but so does one NFL analyst, who made a bold claim about a record he believes Hunter can break in his rookie season.
NFL Analyst Believes Travis Hunter Could Shatter Major Record in Rookie Season
The Jaguars’ newly hired head coach, Liam Coen, has already stated that Hunter has been working out on both sides of the ball since being drafted. Hunter was known at the University of Colorado for his remarkable talent as a wide receiver and a cornerback. Now, he plans to replicate that at the NFL level.
After seeing Hunter practice both positions in minicamp, NFL analyst Danny Parkins said on “First Things First” that Hunter will be one of the most exciting players to watch during the upcoming NFL season.
“Travis Hunter, they, the Jaguars, are telling everybody what their plan is, and we’re all like, are they really going to play him both ways? They traded up from five to two to get him. They are working him out on both sides of the ball. I think he’s going to set the record for most snaps played in NFL history as a rookie.”
Parkins boldly claimed Hunter would break the record for most snaps played in a single season, a record that has stood since 2014, when Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins played 1,357 snaps:
“He played 1,483 snaps. In 13 games, and I know it’s College v. The Pros, and there’s a jump up there, but 1,483 snaps would shatter the record for most snaps by a player in a single season, and he gets four extra games to do it.”
Parkins explained that if Hunter plays consistent snaps on both sides of the ball, breaking the record isn’t far-fetched:
“Shohei Otani changed how we think about baseball. This guy, just by being on the field, the volume of plays that I think he is going to be, is going to change the way we think about what is athletically possible for football.”
Parkins compared Hunter to three-time MLB MVP Shohei Ohtani, who famously entered the big leagues as an elite pitcher and hitter. Hunter has the skills to be the Ohtani of football, but the two sports don’t translate perfectly. However, playing both sides of the ball is incredibly taxing on the body.
Hunter has MVP potential, demonstrated by his incredible college numbers. In his Heisman-winning season with Colorado, Hunter had 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 36 total tackles, one tackle for loss, four interceptions, and 11 passes defended.
As he begins his rookie NFL season, fans are eager to see if Hunter can live up to the hype while maintaining his health playing offense and defense.
The jump from college to the pros is no small feat, especially when intending to play both offense and defense, but Hunter’s future is as bright as anyone’s. Parkins believes fans are in for a treat ahead of Hunter’s rookie season, but whether it will be a record-breaking one remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: Hunter’s rookie season, fresh off a Heisman Trophy, will be must-watch football.