Sports
Top NFL Draft prospect Travis Hunter’s stance on 2-way difficulty criticized by Shannon Sharpe, Chad Johnson
Travis Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is facing some pushback over his response to a question about the difficulty of being a two-way athlete.
Former NFL stars and current podcast co-hosts Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson were among those who shared criticism after learning Hunter said that playing both offense and defense in football was more challenging than hitting and pitching in baseball like Shohei Ohtani has done so successfully.
During last week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Hunter was asked if being a two-way football player was more challenging than throwing from an MLB pitching mound every five days while also being a full-time designated hitter.
Colorado defensive back Travis Hunter during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Tanner Pearson/Imagn Images)
“Probably me, what I do in football, because it’s a lot on your body,” Hunter said. “Ohtani, he’s a great player, but you gotta do a lot in football.”
TRAVIS HUNTER STEADFAST IN ABILITY TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL TWO-WAY PLAYER IN NFL: ‘I’M JUST DIFFERENT’
Johnson, who spent the majority of his pro football career with the Cincinnati Bengals, spoke of Hunter getting in a batting cage.
“I got to get Travis Hunter in the batting cage,” the former wide receiver said during an appearance on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” after hearing Hunter’s take. “As athletically gifted as you are, I want to see you hit a 95 mph fastball in the cage. The comparison is not even close.
“The two most difficult things in life are hitting a baseball and keeping a woman happy, long term.”
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, heads to first as he grounds out while San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano watches during the seventh inning of an opening day baseball game at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, March 20, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Sharpe also disagreed with Hunter, concluding that the comparison between what Hunter does on the football field and what Ohtani does on the baseball diamond “aint even close.”
“Hey Trav, until you can get in that batting cage, just the batting cage … just the machine. Tell them to turn that up to 90-95 miles per hour and let me see you hit it. Just the fastball, I ain’t talking about no slider. I ain’t talking about no curve. I ain’t talking about no sinker,” Sharpe said during a recent episode of “Nightcap.”
Shannon Sharpe, left, and Chad Ochocinco speak onstage during The Volume – Nightcap Live Show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco at Redtail Feb. 8, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for The Volume)
“The most difficult thing to do in this world is hit a baseball coming at you. Just the fastball,” the Pro Football Hall of Famer continued. “As difficult as the game of football is, and I love you, you’re an exceptional talent. But it’s not even comparable.”
While NFL team decision-makers debate whether Hunter should be deployed as a full-time offensive or defensive player, the former Colorado star views himself as a two-way player.
“Did some meetings at receiver. Did some meetings at DB. So, still up in the air,” Hunter responded to questions at the NFL Scouting Combine about playing significant snaps on offense and defense in the pros.
“They say, ‘Nobody has ever done it, for real, the way I do it,’ but I tell them, ‘I’m just different.’”
Hunter played wide receiver and cornerback at Jackson State and Colorado under head coach Deion Sanders. Hunter excelled on both sides of the ball in college, playing more than 700 snaps on offense and defense.
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Sports
Olympic medalist suffers serious injuries after ‘death-defying’ skateboarding stunt
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An Olympic medalist and 13-time X Games winner suffered serious head injuries after a stunt went wrong.
Nyjah Huston, who won bronze in Paris in 2024, said he suffered a fractured skull and eye socket.
“A harsh reminder how death-defying skating massive rails can be…” Huston wrote in an Instagram post which included a photo of himself in a hospital bed. “Taking it one day at a time. I hope yall had a better new years then me. We live to fight another day.”
Nyjah Huston of the United States competes in the men’s street prelims during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at La Concorde 3. (Jack Gruber/USA TODAY Sports)
The post also featured Huston being treated by first responders and friends, along with another photo showing a large black-and-blue mark on Huston’s eye.
Numerous skating legends showed their support for Huston, who is considered one of the best skateboarders in the United States today.
Nyjah Huston of Team USA reacts at the Skateboarding Men’s Street Prelims on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park on July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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“Been watching @nyjah grow up into one of the best skaters to ever do it and it amazes me the amount of grit this kid has,” Shaun White shared on his Instagram story, via Pro Football Network. “You got this brother. Heal quick!”
Even Tony Hawk shared well-wishes on Huston’s Instagram post.
“Heavy. Stay strong; we know you’ll be back,” the skateboarding legend wrote.
“Man.. prayers for healing brother!” added Ryan Sheckler.
It is unknown whether Huston was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
Nyjah Huston, of the United States, celebrates during the men’s skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Huston has seven gold medals and five silvers in world championships. He has not competed since the 2024 Olympics, but the California native has his eyes set on the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
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Sports
Prep talk: JuJu Watkins returns to Sierra Canyon on Friday
JuJu Watkins is returning to Sierra Canyon High on Friday, the place where she was a high school basketball All-American.
The school will hold a ceremony retiring her jersey at halftime of the boys’ basketball game between Sierra Canyon and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
She will be presented with a framed jersey.
Watkins is sitting out this season at USC while recovering from a knee injury.
Sierra Canyon girls’ basketball coach Alicia Komaki said, “She raised our standards, which was hard to do because we had won four state championships. She was an incredibly talented player.”
Watkins was also making a huge impact in the college game until her injury last season during the NCAA playoffs.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
Miami beats Ole Miss behind Carson Beck’s game-winning touchdown to reach CFP National Championship Game
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The Miami Hurricanes are heading to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, coming away with a narrow victory over Ole Miss, 31-27, in an all-time postseason contest.
The Hurricanes will now await the winner of the other semifinal between the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks to see who they will play on Jan. 19. But Miami will do so on their home turf, with the National Championship Game being played at Hard Rock Stadium – the site of their home games.
The game began slowly for both teams, with only Miami getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter with a field goal on their 13-play opening drive. But the fireworks came out from there for the Rebels thanks to the speed of running back Kewan Lacy.
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Charmar Brown of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes celebrates a run in the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos)
On just the second play of the second quarter, Lacy was off to the race, finding a seam and busting out a 73-yard touchdown run to go up 7-3 after the extra point.
But this game was back and forth for quite some time, including the ensuing Hurricanes drive as quarterback Carson Beck led the way on a 15-play touchdown series with a CharMar Brown rushing score from four yards out.
The game was deadlocked at 10 apiece when Beck decided to air it out to Keelan Marion, and it was worth the risk. Marion made the grab for a 52-yard touchdown to help Miami go up 17-13 at halftime.
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The third quarter was an odd one for both squads, as their opening drives resulted in a missed field goal apiece. Then, after Beck threw an interception, the Rebels were able to cut the lead to 17-16 in favor of the Hurricanes heading into the fourth quarter for the ages.
There was no absence of electric plays when it mattered most in the final 15 minutes, as Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss got his team downfield enough to take a 19-17 lead with a field goal.
But the speed of Malachi Toney changed the scoreboard for Miami in the best way possible, as he took a screen 36 yards to the house, capping a four-play, 75-yard answer drive for the Hurricanes right after Ole Miss took the lead.
Trinidad Chambliss of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
With a 24-19 lead and five minutes left to play in the game, Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense had quite enough time to retake the lead. He did just that, finding trusty tight end Dae’Quan Wright for 24 yards to send the Rebels faithful ballistic.
Ole Miss wanted to go for two in hopes of making it a three-point lead, and Chambliss came through again, finding a wide open Caleb Odom for the key score.
It was up to Beck and the Miami offense to keep the game alive with at least tying the game at 27 apiece. On a crucial third-and-10 just inside field goal range, Beck was confident with his pass to Marion to get well within range. Another pass to Marion made it first-and-goal, and it was clear Miami wasn’t trying to force overtime. They wanted to win it all.
How fitting was it that Beck, scanning the field, found a seam to his left and just sprinted for the colored paint to score the game-winner with 18 seconds left.
But things got fascinating at the end, with Ole Miss going 40 yards in just a few seconds to set up a Hail Mary for the win. Chambliss had the space to loft a pass to the end zone, and though it hit off the hand of a teammate, it landed incomplete for the Miami victory.
Carson Beck of the Miami Hurricanes passes the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels in the first quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
In the box score, Beck was 23-of-37 for 268 yards with his two passing touchdowns and an interception. Marion was a key player in the victory with seven catches for 114 yards, while Mark Fletcher Jr. set the tone in the ground game with 133 yards rushing on 22 carries. Toney also tallied 81 receiving yards for Miami.
For Ole Miss, Chambliss also went 23-of-37 for 277 yards with his touchdown to Wright, who finished with 64 yards on three grabs. De’Zhaun Stribling was five for 77 through the air, while Lacy rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries.
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