Colorado Buffaloes two-way celebrity — and the potential No. 1 decide within the 2025 NFL Draft — Travis Hunter is a one-of-one participant on the soccer discipline proper now, as he has performed each cornerback and extensive receiver at a excessive degree over the previous three years.
Maybe the one honest comparability in sports activities proper now to Hunter could be Los Angeles Dodgers celebrity and three-time league MVP Shohei Ohtani, who has each hit and pitched at a excessive degree all through elements of his MLB profession.
However which one of many two has a tougher job of their respective two-way play?
“Most likely me and what I do in soccer [is more impressive] as a result of it is quite a bit in your physique. Ohtani, he is a terrific participant, however you bought to do quite a bit in soccer,” Hunter said on the NFL Scouting Mix Thursday when requested whether or not his or Ohtani’s two-way play is “harder.”
Whereas current for conferences with NFL groups, Hunter isn’t doing drills on the mix this week in Indianapolis.
As a large receiver, Hunter reeled in 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns at Colorado final season. His reception and landing totals led the Big 12. As a defensive again, Hunter totaled 4 interceptions, 11 passes defended and 36 mixed tackles, serving to him win Huge 12 Defensive Participant of the Yr honors. Moreover, Hunter, a two-time All-American, received the 2024 Heisman Trophy Award.
Hunter spent the earlier two seasons in Colorado, preceded by enjoying one season with the Jackson State Tigers; he adopted head coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State to Colorado in 2023.
Then again, Ohtani simply had among the best offensive seasons in MLB historical past, highlighted by changing into the primary participant to perform a 50-50 season (50 stolen bases and 50 residence runs). The overwhelming, left-handed hitter completed the 2024 common season with 54 residence runs, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, whereas posting a .310/.390/.646 slash line and serving to the Dodgers win the 2024 World Collection in what was his first season with the franchise.
Ohtani hasn’t pitched in an MLB sport since struggling a UCL tear in his pitching arm with the Los Angeles Angels in August 2023, merely serving as a chosen hitter. That mentioned, over the 86 profession MLB begins that Ohtani has made, he has posted a 3.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 608 strikeouts over 481.2 innings; when Ohtani makes a begin, he additionally hits.
Each being the middle of a protection’s consideration within the passing sport and shutting down the opposition’s finest receiver (Hunter), or each hitting and pitching at an All-Star degree (Ohtani)? It is an enchanting debate. Granted, Hunter performs each methods extra constantly, whereas accidents have sadly gotten in the way in which for Ohtani.
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