Travis Hunter’s NFL Debut: The Ultimate Swiss Army Knife Set to Redefine the Game and Crush the Competition

Ever wondered what it takes to be a one-man army on the football field? Well, Travis Hunter isn’t just wondering—he’s living it. Here’s a guy gearing up to rewrite the playbook, tackling both offense and defense like it’s just another Tuesday. No, seriously—has anyone else tried this in the modern era? Spoiler: Nope. Just him. Coming off a jaw-dropping Heisman Trophy season where he dominated as both a wide receiver and cornerback, Travis is stepping into the NFL spotlight as a bona fide unicorn. But balancing those Herculean roles? That’s a whole new beast. Curious how he’s prepping to pull off what many would call inhuman? Stick around—his game-changing insights might just spill over into how you hustle, whether you’re hitting the gym, the boardroom, or the weekend soccer match. LEARN MORE

TRAVIS HUNTER DOESN’T know how his rookie season will go. But he does know he’s the first of his kind.

The Jaguar is set to play extensively on both offense (wide receiver) and defense (cornerback) this season, a feat that hasn’t been attempted in the modern era. “There ain’t been nobody,” he says. “Just me.”

But Hunter has done it at a high level before: During his Heisman Trophy-winning 2024 season, he was one of college football’s top players at both wide receiver (92 receptions, 14 receiving touchdowns, 1,152 receiving yards) and corner (31 tackles, 11 pass breakups, 4 interceptions). The season (and his whole career at Colorado and Jackson State) was unprecedented in modern football, making Hunter a unicorn prospect for the 2025 NFL draft—and he insisted that he would continue that way, stating that he would rather stop playing football than commit to only offense or defense ahead of his selection as the second pick by Jacksonville.

So how exactly does one player prep to balance a workload that most people would consider inhuman? We caught up with Hunter ahead of the season, thanks to State Farm’s Gamerhood. His tips can help you, whether you’re on a rec league team or in the office.

Relax in Practice

Don’t coast, but do listen to your body (and your mental bandwidth). Hunter is known for his speed, and he built that by running sprints with belts, sleds, and weight. He says he’ll slow that pace in the pros, saving his energy for game day. “In my position, I run a lot, so I don’t want to overrun myself,” he says. “When I was younger, I did.”

Trust Your Instincts

“I just feel like it’s an instinct,” Hunter says of how he’s training. “You understand it, where the players are going, how to create space. Knowledge of the game.”

If you’re in an extra-large role in your own pursuits—whether it’s as the player-coach of your rec team or a solo weekend with the kids—don’t overthink. Trust your gut (which likely got you the opportunity), and rely on your instincts.

Anna Katherine Clemmons is an adjunct professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia, and has written for numerous publications, including ESPN the Magazine and The New York Times.