For every college football superstar like Travis Hunter aiming to transition to the NFL, there have been many who have struggled to adapt to the big league. Johnny Manziel, for instance, dominated the SEC but fizzled out in the pros. Florida legend Tim Tebow was the first underclassman to win the Heisman Trophy. But in the NFL, he was nowhere near his CFB level in terms of impact.
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The more we hear stories of college phenoms struggling as pros, the harder it gets to believe that Hunter will get a chance to fulfill his dream of continuing as a two-way player in the NFL. After all, playing at the highest level isn’t just about talent — it’s about endurance, recovering after being chased, hit and taken down, and lining up against offensive giants.
Still, Travis Kelce said he “100%” believes the Colorado Buffaloes star can play both ways in the pros. But first, Hunter needs to prove himself, Kelce added, almost as a disclaimer. All the more since no one has truly played both sides in the big league. Yes, Deion Sanders did it in the 1990s, but on select occasions.
“It’s 100% possible. But he’s gonna have to prove that he can do it. Nobody has ever played every single play on both sides,” said Kelce on New Heights.
“When Deion did it, he was in like nickel, he was in certain packages, but I believe in the NFL, they had to scheme up around him getting too exhausted. They really have to weigh that into the play call (of Hunter) — both offensively and defensively,” added the Kansas Chiefs star.
Hunter, the champion that he is, didn’t take Kelce’s comments as a knock. Instead, the two-way star agreed with the Chiefs tight end, and took his words as a challenge. He reiterated his intent to replicate at the NFL the success he enjoyed in Boulder as a lockdown corner and an elite wide receiver.
“He said I have to prove that I can do it — so that’s my main thing. I’m gonna prove that I’m going to do it and I can do it. He’s not telling no lie, I still got to prove it,” Hunter said.
“I just can’t go to the league, and they just go, ‘Oh, here you go, Trav, you can do all this’, if I don’t go out and show up how I’m supposed to show up. So yes, I’mma prove it. He not telling no lie, he not sugarcoating it, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” added the Heisman winner.
As multiple analysts over the past few months have pointed out, the issue with Hunter’s wish to play both ways has nothing to do with his abilities. There is also a question about the physical toll. So, curating specific offensive and defensive packages is the way to go about it.
Then again, there are far too many variables involved to create a platform for Hunter that allows him to showcase his two-way skills. It would indeed be premature to explore the Heisman winner’s NFL prospects. But that hasn’t stopped the Buffs superstar from dreaming of making history.
The Buffs star was asked by a fan on the latest episode of The Travis Hunter Show about the possibility of being the first player to ever score a pick-six and a touchdown on offense in the same NFL game. The two-way star responded with an enthusiastic, “yes”.
“Yes, I’m definitely excited… if I am the first person, yeah, I’m definitely excited to be able to do that. But like I said, I still got to prove myself. Hopefully, I prove myself and keep dominating like I always have my whole life. I just got to keep being me and keep doing me,” said Hunter.
All said and done, Hunter’s confidence has to be acknowledged, lauded even. What’s left is for him to do now is the hardest part — step onto the field and prove the doubters wrong, facing the best in the business.
