Back in West Palm, things weren’t exactly smooth for Travis Hunter. Money was tight, his dad had legal troubles, and football felt more like an escape than a plan. His mom, Ferrante Edmonds, eventually packed up and moved them to Georgia just so he could have a shot. He ended up crashing at his assistant coach’s house, grinding every single day just to stand out. That work? It never really stopped.
Even when the cameras showed up later, Travis was still that same kid hustling on empty fields after practice. He’d text Coach Prime at 6 a.m. on game days, ready to roll, texting, “Let’s go. Let’s go do this, baby.” Despite being told to rest, he’d sneak into practices early. He’d watch 10 hours of film on his own, just to stay sharp. It wasn’t about flash—it was about showing up, every single time.
Fast forward to now, and after a couple of standout seasons in Colorado, Hunter is a Jaguar—drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 2nd overall pick. And let’s be real—when we say the Jaguars picked him in the first round, 2nd overall, we see a 21-year-old Heisman Trophy winner kid donning a Jaguar jersey. But the grind behind that? Yeah, it sometimes gets overshadowed.
That’s exactly what Hunter’s mom feels. On Wednesday, a few days after the Jaguars drafted her son, Ferrante Edmonds took to her official IG handle and shared a message, addressing Travis’ grind and confidence. “They see the draft, they see the lights. They see the Jaguars jersey. But they didn’t see the grind, the gut-wrenching prayers, or the God-ordained process. I raised a king—not just an athlete. A young man of character, confidence, and calling.”
“This moment? It’s bigger than football. This is legacy, this is glory, this is GOD. I’m not just celebrating a pick—I’m honoring a promise,” she wrote. Travis didn’t just show up on the football field; he practically lived there. We’re talking about a guy who played over 1,500 snaps in a single college season—yes, you read that right. That’s more than most players see in two seasons combined.
And he didn’t just play; he excelled. In 2024, he racked up 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns as a wide receiver. On defense? Four interceptions, 36 tackles, and 11 pass breakups. Talk about his two-way playing ability. But let’s be real—it’s not just about the stats. Add the Heisman Trophy, Chuck Bednarik, and Fred Biletnikoff Awards to his trophy case, and his dominance speaks for itself.
Safe to say, when his mom addressed the grind behind his success… let’s just say she wasn’t just talking the talk. No wonder the Jaguars moved up to select him with the 2nd overall pick.
Jags trading up for Travis Hunter: A good decision or a bad one?
“There are players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of a team… there are very few players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of the sport itself.” That’s the Jaguars’ GM James Gladstone admitting why Hunter is a game-changer. With a dual-threat ability on both offense and defense, the Jags believe that Hunter will do more than just fit in. And why not?
The guy’s a top-tier receiver? Absolutely. Can he prevent the receivers from catching the ball? No doubt. And the most interesting one—can he throw passes as well? Well, the 21-year-old WR/CB believes that he could. But the big question: was trading up to the 2nd spot to pick a WR/CB a good decision? That’s where it gets pretty tricky.
A couple of days ago, on the episode of The Colin Cowherd Podcast, John Middlekauff weighed in, revealing the buzz inside the NFL. Middlekauff stated, “I know the Jags, some of his videos go viral. You know, the NFL, you know, this is a pretty close-knit group and I think, you know, some of his comments—listen, you make a trade, you make a bold trade, no one has a problem.”
“They can agree or disagree, but the way he described Travis Hunter, I mean, I got a text today from someone in a war room that said, ‘We, on our trade chart, they got absolutely fleeced on that trade. It wasn’t even close.” Translation? Well, the folks out there believes that trading for a premium player (quarterback) would be a better choice for the Jags. As Middlekauff addressed the Jaguars’ trade move, he stated, “Sometimes you pay a premium to move up for a quarterback.”
“But when you pay that price for a player like Hunter, who’s still unproven, that’s a different gamble.” Middlekauff went on to share his own conversation with league insiders, saying, “I asked, ‘What’s one thing you really struggle with?’ And the answer was clear: ‘I have a hard time with just dumb players.” Long story short: Middlekauff believes that the NFL is a league that demands a sharp mind to run the game.
And if you’re making a bold decision to trade up to draft Travis Hunter, it might come with certain challenges.
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