Travis Hunter

Travis Hunter: Stats, Bio, Scouting Report & 2026 Jaguars Update

Travis Hunter isn't just another NFL rookie-turned-sophomore — he's the rarest kind of athlete the sport has seen in generations. As a wide receiver and a cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hunter has spent his entire football life refusing to choose a side of the ball, and it's made him one of the most talked-about players in the league. From a Heisman Trophy season at Colorado to a No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Hunter's career has been defined by doing what modern football said was impossible.

Early Life

Hunter was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, before his family relocated to Georgia when he was in the eighth grade. That move put him in the Atlanta suburb of Suwanee, where his talent on both sides of the football first started turning heads at the high school level.

High School Career

At Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, Hunter played both cornerback and wide receiver for the Eagles, establishing the two-way identity that would define the rest of his career. He was named the MaxPreps Georgia Player of the Year and became the nation's top-ranked recruit in his class — and in a landmark decision, he chose to sign with Jackson State University, making him the first five-star recruit in modern recruiting history to commit to an HBCU program.

College Career

Hunter's college journey began under head coach Deion Sanders at Jackson State in 2022, where he split time between offense and defense: 18 catches for 188 yards and 4 touchdowns as a receiver, paired with 15 tackles, 2 interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown. When Sanders took the head coaching job at Colorado, Hunter followed him to Boulder for the 2023 season.

His first year with the Buffaloes was productive despite a lacerated liver injury that cost him playing time — 57 receptions, 721 yards, and 5 touchdowns on offense, with 22 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense. Then came 2024, one of the most remarkable individual seasons in college football history. Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns while also recording 25 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 11 passes defensed — essentially playing every snap on both sides of the ball. That production earned him the Heisman Trophy, the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver, and the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's top defender, making him the first player in college football history to win both awards in the same season. Colorado later retired his No. 12 jersey.

NFL Draft

Hunter entered the 2025 NFL Draft as a consensus top prospect, though evaluators debated which position he'd ultimately settle into at the pro level. The Jacksonville Jaguars answered that question by trading up with the Cleveland Browns to select Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick — and making clear from day one that they intended to use him as a true two-way player, honoring the condition Hunter had insisted on throughout the pre-draft process.

NFL Career

Hunter's rookie season showed exactly why Jacksonville was willing to bet on the two-way experiment. Splitting time between offense and defense, he caught 28 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown on 45 targets, while adding 15 tackles and 3 passes defensed on defense through seven games. His rookie year came to an early end on October 30, 2025, when he suffered a non-contact knee injury in practice; season-ending surgery to repair his LCL followed in November.

Playing Style

What makes Hunter unique isn't just that he plays two positions — it's how well he plays both of them. As a receiver, he combines sharp route-running with elite ball skills and the acceleration to threaten defenses after the catch. As a cornerback, he plays with the same ball-tracking instincts, turning his receiver background into a genuine advantage in coverage, reading quarterbacks and closing on the football like a converted wideout who understands exactly what a route is designed to do.

Strengths

Hunter's biggest strength is his rare football IQ on both sides of the ball, paired with elite ball skills that translate identically whether he's the one catching the pass or defending it. His competitive toughness and conditioning — built to handle a workload almost no modern player takes on — are equally central to his game.

Weaknesses

The primary question marks around Hunter have never been about talent — they're about workload management and durability. Playing snaps on both offense and defense at a near-every-down rate puts unusual physical strain on a player, and his 2025 season-ending knee injury underscored the real risk that comes with the two-way workload the Jaguars have committed to.

Current Team

Hunter remains with the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into the 2026 season, wearing No. 12. Head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone have both reaffirmed the team's plan to keep him playing both wide receiver and cornerback.

Latest Season Update

Hunter spent the 2026 offseason rehabbing from his knee surgery, and the Jaguars have described his recovery as ahead of schedule throughout OTAs and minicamp. By mid-July 2026, NFL Media reported Hunter was running over 20 mph in workouts — faster than his pre-injury top speed — and on track to be full-go for the start of training camp, which opened July 29, 2026. Jacksonville has signaled a role shift for his second season: Hunter is expected to see increased snaps as a starting cornerback, while remaining involved on offense in a part-time capacity, a change from his roughly two-thirds offense, one-third defense split as a rookie.

Future Outlook

If Hunter can stay healthy, the Jaguars believe he has the talent to become one of the NFL's true positionless stars — a difference-maker who can swing a game from either side of the ball. His 2026 season is widely viewed as the real test of whether the two-way experiment can work at full strength over a full 17-game slate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Travis Hunter?

Travis Hunter was born on May 18, 2003, making him 23 years old as of the 2026 NFL season.

How tall is Travis Hunter?

Travis Hunter is listed at 6-foot-1 (185 cm) and 185 pounds.

Who drafted Travis Hunter?

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, trading up with the Cleveland Browns to do so.

What position does Travis Hunter play?

Travis Hunter plays both wide receiver and cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, one of the only true two-way players in modern NFL history.

Where is Travis Hunter from?

Travis Hunter was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and grew up primarily in Suwanee, Georgia, where he attended Collins Hill High School.

Did travis hunter wife file for divorce​?

No, Travis Hunter's wife, Leanna Lenee, did not file for divorce.

Is travis hunter hurt​?

Travis Hunter is currently healthy and no longer sidelined, having fully recovered from the season-ending right knee LCL injury he suffered during practice in late October 2025.

What team do travis hunter play for​?

Travis Hunter plays as a two-way cornerback and wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League (NFL).

Who drafted travis hunter​

Travis Hunter was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected him second overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Is travis hunter wife pregnant​?

Travis Hunter's wife, Leanna Lenee, is not currently pregnant; rather, they already welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in August 2025 after keeping the pregnancy a complete secret until birth.