When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to snag Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick, it raised more than a few eyebrows. After all, betting on a two-way player in today’s NFL is as risky as it gets. But for Jaguars GM James Gladstone, it was a no-brainer. “He’s a rare person. He’s a rare player, but he’s also a reminder that the boundaries of the game of football were built to be challenged,” Gladstone said of his prized rookie. Now, just days after the draft, Hunter is proving why Gladstone’s gamble might pay off big time.
Travis Hunter’s whirlwind week reached new heights when he graduated from Colorado on May 8th, proudly rocking Jaguars pajamas under his cap and gown. It’s the kind of brand-first, confidence-dripping move that resonates in today’s sports world. As NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe put it, “Pretty cool moment from Travis Hunter, Heisman Trophy winner, two-time Academic All American now gets to graduate in anthropology. As you said, I had never heard of it until I looked more into it. Study humanity. It makes sense that he’s trying to do something that is not very human, playing both sides of the ball in the NFL, and it’s one thing that you’ll notice, maybe at a scene in this video: he actually wore Jaguars pajamas underneath his gown today during his graduation, so he’s already bleeding that Duval energy as he was going about graduation.”
Hunter’s journey to the NFL wasn’t just about athletic prowess. He graduated as a two-time Academic All-American with a 3.79 GPA, earning his degree in anthropology after initially planning to major in psychology at Jackson State. Explaining his switch, Hunter said, “I’m an anthropology major, and I really enjoy learning about different cultures and how they interact with one another. Being able to learn about these cultures and skills is incredibly beneficial to me, even when playing football.”
Travis Hunter and his Buffs teammates Amari McNeill, Samuel Okunlola, and Jeremiah Brown all snagged their degrees in Boulder on Thursday, May 8th. CU Buffs even posted a hyped-up video on their Instagram, where Hunter was yelling, “What’s up, Buff Nation? It’s your boy Trav! The boys out here graduating, man!” Seriously, seeing Hunter flaunt that first-gen grad sash really shows his grind on the field and in the classroom.
Travis Hunter graduated today as a 2-time Academic All-American rocking Jaguars pajamas under his grad gown. Tomorrow the 2-way Hunter starts practice at Jaguars rookie minicamp rocking No.12 primarily playing offense and then eventually both.
More for @nflnetwork The Insiders: pic.twitter.com/Hca35sICJ9
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) May 8, 2025
It’s this blend of on-field versatility and off-field intellect that makes Hunter such a unique talent. Jaguars GM James Gladstone clearly saw this potential, noting, “He’s somebody who is deserving of a first-round draft pick as a wide receiver, and he is worthy of a first-round draft pick as a corner. Certainly look forward to each of those elements showing themselves over the next few years while he’s under his rookie contract.”
Drafting Hunter wasn’t just a roll of the dice. The Jags traded up to the No. 2 spot, sending the 5th overall pick, the 36th pick, and a 2026 first-rounder to secure their man. It’s a massive commitment, not just financially—his potential rookie contract could exceed $45 million over four years—but also strategically. The team is betting on Hunter becoming a generational talent, someone who can redefine what it means to be a two-way player in the NFL.
Will Travis Hunter’s two-way magic translate in the NFL?
Of course, the question remains whether Hunter can truly dominate both sides of the ball at the pro level. The Jaguars, for their part, are easing him in.
According to Wolfe, Hunter will start rookie minicamp focusing primarily on offense. “When he starts rookie mini camp tomorrow…from what I told he will start primarily on the offense side of the ball, try to get confirmation on if that means he’s going to do zero defensive snaps, they want to keep that in anticipation for the fans who are coming to see that on Saturday. But he’s going to major in offense at wide receiver, first, that’s where they feel like he can make the biggest impact, and then he’ll learn defense as the spring and summer goes on,” Wolfe said. The plan is to slowly integrate him into the defense as the offseason progresses.
That approach makes sense given the recent shakeup in Jacksonville’s receiving corps. The Jaguars just cut wide receiver Gabe Davis after a failed physical, freeing up a potential role for Hunter. Davis, who signed a three-year, $39 million deal last offseason, struggled with injuries, playing just 10 games in 2024. With Davis gone and Calvin Ridley also out after being released in a cost-cutting move, the door is wide open for Hunter to make an immediate impact on offense.
As Wolfe noted, the challenge is immense. “No player has ever played over 100 snaps since 2012 in the NFL,” he said. Hunter averaged over 112 snaps per game at Colorado, a staggering workload that tests even the most physically gifted athletes. Yet, if anyone can pull it off, it might just be Hunter. After all, this is the same player who rocked Jaguars pajamas to his graduation—a reminder that he’s all in. Now the Jaguars hold the key to unleashing Hunter’s full force. Rookie minicamp is the proving ground—if his history’s a guide, he’ll rise.
The post NFL Analyst Gives James Gladstone Strong Vote of Confidence After Travis Hunter’s Graduation in Jaguars Pajamas Moment appeared first on EssentiallySports.