Hunter played 162 snaps as a defensive end in seven games, recording 15 tackles and three pass breakups against a defense that also included Jarrian Jones, Tyson Campbell (later traded for Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II) and Montaric “Buster” Brown. With a greater need at receiver, coach Liam Coen wisely decided to focus Hunter’s efforts on the offensive side of the ball before Hunter’s LCL injury required surgery, ending his debut abruptly.
Considering Hunter’s preparations for the 2026 season include recovering from surgery, it’s surprising to hear Gladstone have such high workload expectations for Hunter in Year 2. He’s expected to be a full participant in training camp, according to Gladstone, but the thought of pushing for a first-round prize when he’s coming off surgery could be a concern.
Jaguars management may argue that Hunter is up for the challenge. The Heisman Trophy winner built his college legend around tireless effort, averaging 117 snaps per game while playing at Colorado. By all accounts, Hunter was stepping up to a bigger workload before he was injured in practice. Putting him on such a path would stand as a continuation of those plans.
Jacksonville rumors have varied on how the Jaguars might spread the repeat Hunter between receiver and cornerback, with some reports suggesting he could end up becoming their primary corner and spend less time on offense. If offseason moves are any indication, Jacksonville appeared to follow such a plan, adding two receivers in the draft while selecting Maryland safety Jalen Huskey with the No.
“There is no telling [his usage] won’t step up offensively either, but it was down defensively last season,” Gladstone said. “We also have another defensive corner room and the body is different than it was a year ago. Our organizational structure is different than it was a year ago, so it’s more suitable to put him in the corner than it was last year.”
We are still two plus months away from the start of training camp. Hunter has time to prepare for such expectations. They will remain sky high for the former No. 2 overall pick.