Travis Hunter, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ dynamic cornerback and wide receiver, isn’t just hitting the weight room to prep for the 2026 NFL regular season. Nah, this dude is straight up living in virtual reality, pushing the boundaries of what ‘offseason prep’ even means. He’s been using some wild, top-of-the-line VR tech to get mentally dialed in, and it sounds like he’s taken it to a level no one else in the league is even touching right now.
Living in the Matrix to Master the Field
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen made a huge move this offseason, ordering the construction of a dedicated virtual meeting room. They literally knocked down a wall and installed this crazy software just to give their guys an edge with mental reps. And who’s making the most of it? You guessed it: Travis Hunter. According to folks around the Jaguars, he’s used that room more than anyone, “and it’s not particularly close.” Imagine this: Hunter walks into this virtual space, hears the defensive play call like it’s game day, moves to his spot in the formation, watches the offense line up *virtually*, and then he handles all the necessary checks and communication. This isn’t just watching film, it’s *being* in the game without the pads on. How many reps is that guy getting that no one else is? It’s wild to think about.
From Injury Comeback to Cornerback Kingpin
Remember Hunter’s rookie year? The guy was picked second overall in the 2025 draft after winning the Heisman at Colorado, with everyone hyped about him being a difference maker on both offense and defense. But then a knee injury cut his season short, limiting him to only seven games. Brutal. The good news is he’s worked his way back, looking good for the start of the regular season, and has been a full participant in practice for weeks. Coen is seeing the growth, telling The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, “He’s done so much work in the virtual meeting rooms, walkthroughs, [traditional] meeting room. That’s been a huge part of his growth and maturation throughout this training camp.” The coach also noted Hunter’s been building his body back up physically, especially his upper half, and is getting his confidence back.
Here’s the kicker, though: all signs point to Hunter being a much bigger contributor at cornerback than wideout this season. Back in April, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport dropped the news that Hunter would mainly be a corner and only a part-time receiver. Coen just confirmed it this week, straight up calling Hunter their “3A, 3B receiver right now.” Look at the depth chart and you’ll see him listed as a starting cornerback. Howe also reported Hunter is “preparing to serve as the team’s No. 1 cornerback.” Yeah, you read that right. A number one corner. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s scheme probably won’t have him shadowing specific receivers, keeping him mostly on one side of the field, but still, this is a massive shift for his second year.
The Jaguars kick off their Week 1 action against the Cleveland Browns on September 13. You gotta wonder how much of Hunter’s virtual reps will translate onto the real field. Get ready, because if this VR prep clicks like it sounds, we’re about to witness a whole new level of cornerback play from a guy who was already a Heisman Trophy winner. This isn’t just practice; it’s a strategic leap, and the league better be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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