Jaguars trade up to pick Travis Hunter at No. 2 overall in NFL draft
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft Thursday night, setting up the next big question of Hunter's storied football career:
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After trading up to get this pick from the Cleveland Browns, how will the Jaguars use him exactly?
Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead announced Hunter's draft selection and identified him as a "wide receiver/defensive back." That's what he wants – to play virtually every snap as a receiver on offense and cornerback on defense, much like he did at Colorado, where he won the Heisman Trophy.
Hunter told ESPN after his selection that the Jaguars were open to let him "do what I do."
If Hunter plays both and flourishes at both while helping the Jaguars win, he has the potential to be a generational star and the kind of sports savior that Jacksonville has long lacked.
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After a tough childhood and a storied season at Colorado in 2024, it was an emotional moment for Hunter, who attended the draft in Green Bay with his mother and father, Travis Sr. It also was a big swing for Jacksonville, who traded its No. 5 overall pick and more to move up to No. 2 and take the native of Palm Beach County, Fla.
"I'm super excited to be able to go back home," Hunter told ESPN.
BACKGROUND: Travis Hunter's dad permitted by judge to attend NFL draft with son: What to know
What is the biggest risk with drafting Travis Hunter?
Injuries. He plays hard, and he plays a lot, which increases the risk of him being sidelined. Lower body injuries limited him to eight games as a freshman at Jackson State in 2022 before he transferred to Colorado with his coach, Deion Sanders. In 2023, he got clocked on a hard hit that lacerated his liver and kept him out of three games. Then last year he got knocked out of a game with a shoulder injury.
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Despite all that, he led major college football with 2,625 snaps in two seasons and became the 'most decorated player in a season in college football history' in 2024, as Colorado describes it. In addition to the Heisman, he won the Bednarik Award as the nation's most outstanding defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's most outstanding receiver.
His selection at No. 2 overall makes him only the second Colorado player ever to be drafted that high, along with running back Bo Matthews, who was selected No. 2 overall by San Diego in 1974.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travis Hunter picked No. 2 by Jaguars in NFL draft
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