Travis Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, faces some pushback over his answer to a question about the difficulty of being a two-way athlete.
Former NFL stars and the current podcast Co-Hosts Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson were among those who shared criticism after teaching Hunter said that playing both offense and defense in football was more challenging than beating and pitching in baseball as Shohei Ohtani has done so successfully.
During last week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Hunter was asked if it was more challenging to be a two-way footballer than to throw from an MLB-pitching haug every five days, while he was also a full-time hitter.
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Colorado Defensive Back Travis Hunter during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Tanner Pearson/Imag Images)
“Probably me what I do in football because it’s a lot on your body,” Hunter said. “Ohtani, he’s an amazing player, but you have to do a lot in football.”
Travis Hunter steadfast in the ability to become successful two -way player in NFL: ‘I’m just different’
Johnson, who spent most of his pro -football career with Cincinnati Bengals, talked about Hunter getting a batting cage.
“I had to get Travis Hunter in the Batting cage,” said the former broad recipient during a performance at “The Stephen A. Smith Show” after hearing Hunter’s Take. “So athletic gifted as you are, I will see you hit a 95 mph fastball in the cage. The comparison is not even close.
“The two most difficult things in life hit a baseball and keep a woman happy, long -term.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, first leads to when he justifies, while San Diego Padre’s Catcher Luis Campusano looks at the seventh round of a baseball match in Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, March 20, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-Man)
Sharpe also disagreed with Hunter and concluded that the comparison between what Hunter is doing on the football field and what Ohtani is doing on the baseball diamond “is not yet close.”
“Hey trot until you can get into that batting cage, just the batting cage … just the machine. Ask them to turn it up to 90-95 miles an hour and let me see you hit it. Just the fastball I didn’t talk about anyone shooting. I’m not talking about any curve.
Shannon Sharpe, Left, and Chad Ochocinco are talking on stage during the Binded – Nightcap Live Show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco on Redtail February 8, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for The Volume)
“The most difficult thing to do in this world is hit by a baseball that comes to you. Just Fastball,” continued Pro Football Hall of Famer. “As difficult as the football game is and I love you, you are an unusual talent. But it’s not even comparable.”
While the NFL team decision makers are discussing whether Hunter should be inserted as a full-time offensive or defensive player, the former Colorado star considers himself a two-way player.
“Have some meetings at the recipient. Cambining some meetings at DB. Then still up in the air,” Hunter replied to questions at the NFL scout of playing significant snaps on offense and defense in the pros.
“They say, ‘No one has ever done it, for right, as I do,’ but I’m saying them, ‘I’m just different.'”
Hunter played broad recipient and cornerback in Jackson State and Colorado under the main coach Deion Sanders. Hunter excelled on both sides of the ball in college and played more than 700 snaps on offense and defense.
