‘He’s Capable Of Doing It’

Mike Pritchard — a Colorado Buffaloes Hall of Famer — believes Travis Hunter can play both sides of the ball for the Jaguars. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)

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Mike Pritchard believes Travis Hunter will be utilized on both sides of the ball moving forward with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Colorado Buffaloes Hall of Famer says he’s never seen an athlete like Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Jaguars’ game plan when it comes to Hunter is to play him on both offense and defense, as the Buffaloes did on a full-time basis during his collegiate career.

“I played with Deion (Sanders) when he played on both sides of the ball and played baseball at the same time. so it can be done,” says Pritchard in a one-on-one interview. “I’ve never seen an athlete like Travis to be honest with you. If you think about Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson played a little bit on special teams and played defense primarily too.

“But I think either with Travis, he’s such a great athlete,” Pritchard continues to say. “A truly great athlete, and the temptation for Jacksonville to have him be on both sides of the ball is definitely going to be there. They’re going to utilize him that way because of the attraction, but certainly because he’s capable of doing it.”

Hunter has played on both sides of the ball and did so during his lone preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 22-year-old played 10 snaps on offense and eight snaps on defense in the game.

He played in 86.8% of the offensive snaps and 82.9% of the defensive snaps during his junior year with the Buffaloes. The Jaguars and Hunter seem intent on making that happen at the pro level, something that’s unheard of. While Sanders – Hunter’s college coach – played both positions in the NFL, he only played at wide receiver sparingly during his career.

“The only reservation I have with it is, if he could do it at a high level, is the adjustments,” says Hunter. “How is he going to get defensive adjustments on the sideline if he’s out there playing wide receiver? If he’s out there on the defensive side of the ball, how’s he going to get the offensive adjustments that’s going to be necessary at receiver? If they can figure that out, I think we can see Travis Hunter going and playing on both sides of the ball for the majority of the season.”

Mike Pritchard Says Jaguars Will Use Travis Hunter On Defense If Forced To Lean On One Side Of The Ball

Pritchard says that if the Jaguars can’t figure that out, they’ll lean on Hunter to use on defense full-time while using him to a lesser extent on offense.

“If they can’t figure that out, then certainly defensively, he’s going to be a big help for that defense,” says Prtichard. “You can sprinkle him on offense in some gadget situations or some situational football where he could help as well. I think his impact can really help out that team on the defensive side of the ball.

“That’s something that they’ve been lacking,” Prtichard continues. “I think over the last few years offensively, they have some weapons, and they’re going through some transition there too. The quarterback situation will be interesting. I think his impact can be really felt on that defensive side of the ball.”

The former national champion says that while he’s high on Hunter, he doesn’t believe he’s necessarily the hands-on favorite to win the NFL Rookie of the Year.

“I would go somewhere else,” says Pritchard. “Quarterback with Cam (Ward) is a solid situation. These rookies are incredible. He should be one of those favorites up there on board in terms of Rookie of the Year. It’s not going to be the volume of plays that’s going to get him Rookie of the Year. I think he’s going to have to do something special on either side of the ball to propel him to do that.”

Mike Pritchard On Being A Part Of Circa Contest Weekend In Las Vegas

Pritchard himself is keeping busy these days as he’ll be a part of Circa’s seventh annual “Football Preview Party” betting panel. The panel features a Q & A session with Pritchard and betting analysts Drew Dinsick, Sam Monson and Chuck Edel with fans in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The “Preview Party” is a part of Circa’s weekend-long celebration which celebrates its contests, Circa Survivor, Circa Milllion VII and Circa Grandissimo contests.

“It’s an honor to be on the panel again,” says Pritchard. “I was on the inaugural panel there at Circa when they came up with these contests – Survivor and Millions – and it comes full circle now, and I’m on the panel again. Looking forward to talking to some expert handicappers, and then also talking to people that are curious in the audience, because what I provide as a retired player is perspective.

“I certainly don’t jump into the realm of being a handicapper or somebody who crunches numbers like a professional handicapper would do. But certainly I can lend some perspective that gives some insight into the minds that makes teams successful or or certainly the mindset that helps teams not be successful.”

Circa Survivor offers $15 million for the winner while Circa Million VII will deliver a $1 million first place prize and $6 million in guaranteed prizes.

“Survivor puts the gambler or the bettor or the participant in the arena,” says Pritchard. “There’s nothing like it. I played fantasy football, I’ve won fantasy football before, and that’s emotional. You get revved up with that. But Circa Survivor is a different animal. Each and every week, you feel like you are in the game. That’s my perspective from it, because I see the emotional roller coaster of making that selection, and you’re trying to hold on.

“You’re hoping that all your entries can hold on,” Pritchard continues. “If you got more than one and and if you do, you know the thrill just keeps getting bigger and bigger as you get deeper and deeper into the season. Because it means more.”

Pritchard details the adrenaline rush that comes from playing Circa Survivor and says it’s the “king” when it comes to the contests out there.

“It’s the same thing as as being a player on a team and we’re about to make the playoffs, and every game means more,” says Pritchard. “Circa Millions is a little bit more difficult because you’re dealing with professional handicappers, but the quarterlies with the Circa Millions makes it worth your while if you’re participating in Circa Million.

“Because you can get hot for four weeks in a row, and all of a sudden you might be cashing depending on what everybody else has done in the contest, as opposed to trying to win Circa Million the whole entire year,” Pritchard continues. “But Circa Survivor is the king. It’s the best contest out there, for my money and certainly for my entertainment value as well.”