The Jacksonville Jaguars’ OTAs this week felt less like a practice and more like the first lap of a NASCAR race—full of roaring potential, tight turns, and one rookie who just left skid marks on the track. Picture a ’67 Mustang Shelby GT500 rolling into the garage: sleek, powerful, but needing a mechanic’s sharp eye to avoid blowing a gasket. For head coach Liam Coen, balancing raw speed with reliability is the name of the game. Enter Bhayshul Tuten, a fourth-round dynamo whose wheels spun a little too freely on Monday.
But in Duval County, speed alone won’t win the race. Coen’s message to his rookies? Stay in your lane—or learn how to find it. The spotlight found Bhayshul Tuten quickly—just not how he wanted. During Monday’s live drills, the Virginia Tech product fumbled his first carry, drawing a blunt critique from Coen. “He put the ball on the ground today—that kind of stands out,” Coen said. “Good learning experience, first time in a live setting in the National Football League on your first carry—hopefully you learn something from that moment.” The miscue highlighted a lingering concern.
Tuten’s 4.32-second 40-yard dash speed means little if he can’t grip the ball. But Coen isn’t writing him off. “He’s getting a little more comfortable,” he added, praising Tuten’s improved zone reads and acceleration. The rookie’s 1,150 rushing yards at 6.3 per carry in 2024 prove he’s a home-run threat. However, as analyst Nick Farabaugh noted, “If he ends up fumbling too much, the coach will lose trust in him, and he won’t see the field.” For Tuten, OTAs are less about speed and more about survival.
Tuten’s draft profile reads like a highlight reel: 4.32 speed, 15 touchdowns in 2024, and a knack for forcing missed tackles. But fumbles (5 in college) and shaky hands (74% catch rate) cloud his upside. GM James Gladstone sees a “three-down back” in the mold of Bucky Irving, whom Coen molded into a 1,000-yard rusher in Tampa. “We’re jacked to be able to be in that position to prioritize him,” Gladstone said.
I liked Tuten a lot, but this was his obvious concern: If he ends up fumbling too much, the coach will lose trust in him, and he won’t see the field. https://t.co/b2jI0VMli3
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) May 19, 2025
Scout Lance Zierlein calls Tuten “an explosive athlete with average size but a compact frame,” stressing his “elite straight-line speed” and “contact balance.” So, he’s a project with Pro Bowl tools. But in a crowded RB room featuring Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, Tuten must prove he’s more than a fast car with loose lug nuts. Meanwhile, Travis Hunter—the Jaguars’ No. 2 overall pick—zoomed through drills like a Corvette on an open highway.
His gas tank never hit “E,” his cuts were sharper than a pit crew’s wrench, and his two-way hustle had veterans nodding like seasoned crew chiefs. And while Tuten navigates growing pains, Travis Hunter is already shifting gears.
Hunter’s endurance steals the show as Tuten’s speed meets scrutiny
The two-way phenom, who played 1,483 snaps at Colorado in 2024, left teammates breathless. “The guy can run forever,” Coen marveled. Hunter’s stamina? Think Cal Ripken Jr.’s ironman streak meets Barry Sanders’s elusive cuts. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence summed it up: “He’s like a kid who runs around all day. He doesn’t get tired, it seems like.” However, Hunter’s day wasn’t flawless.
He botched a few assignments, but his accountability impressed coaches. “He came off the grass and took accountability for them,” Coen said. For a team craving playmakers, Hunter’s dual-threat potential is a lottery ticket. The question isn’t if he’ll contribute, but where. Besides, Coen’s offense demands versatility.
In Tampa, RBs averaged 70 receptions yearly—a hurdle for Tuten, who had just 23 catches in 2024. His path to snaps hinges on ball security and playbook mastery. They’re in a “learning phase,” Coen emphasized. For Tuten, every rep is a test. Meanwhile, Hunter’s trajectory points skyward. His Heisman-winning endurance and crisp routes could make him Lawrence’s go-to weapon. As The Athletic’s Jeff Howe noted, Tuten might follow Irving’s blueprint, but Hunter’s already drafting his own.
In football, potential is a promise—not a guarantee. Bhayshul Tuten’s journey mirrors a rookie QB’s first drive: thrilling, nerve-wracking, and ripe for redemption. Travis Hunter? He’s the cheat code every coach dreams of. As Coen juggles their growth, one truth remains. Speed thrills, but discipline wins.
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