Make Or Break Time For Justin Hunter

The traditional line of thinking when it comes to young wide receivers is that they have their breakout season in year three.

Unfortunately for players like Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter, there are guys like AJ Green, Julio Jones and Odell Beckham Jr that have fans clamoring for first and second year success.

Hunter, who was drafted by the Titans in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his high potential coming out of college.

The former Vol wide receiver has only 852 receiving yards and 46 receptions in his first two NFL seasons. Those would be modest numbers for a single season, but spread over two seasons…..well those numbers don’t look too good.

Hunter has been shown tough love by the Titans’ coaches, specifically wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. But so far the tough love hasn’t paid dividends for Hunter.

In his third season out of UT, it’s up to Hunter to finally break through. And with a plethora of wide receivers on the Tennessee roster (newcomers Harry Douglas, Hakeem Nicks and Dorial Green-Beckham, along with Kendall Wright), the chances could be far and few between for Hunter.

The Virginia native recently made it clear to The Tennessean that he can’t let this season slip away.

From The Tennessean:

"Personally, I don’t feel like I have a chance to have a break now because I have a lot riding on the season and everything,’’ said Hunter, who’s headed into his third NFL season. “I have to get ready. I have to be prepared. I can’t take a break because I have to stay in condition so I’ll be ready to go to help this team."

Saying that you have to be ready and actually being ready are two different things.

At least Hunter knows that this is probably his last chance before he’s buried so far on a depth chart that he’ll be just another mega-talented player that couldn’t cut it in the NFL.

I wouldn’t close the door on Hunter being a starter in the NFL just yet, but he’s certainly got his work cut out for him if he wants to make an impact in the AFC South this season.