You ever seen a man so sure of something that he’d bet the house, car, and maybe even his mama’s fine china on it? That’s Urban Meyer when it comes to Travis Hunter. While the 2025 NFL Draft board is looking like a Vegas blackjack table — quarterbacks getting shuffled, edge rushers getting doubled down — Meyer ain’t playing any games. Urban Meyer doubled down on Heisman Hunter after Shannon Sharpe smoked the two-way phenom’s diabolical take.

“I’m taking Travis Hunter,” Meyer said straight up on The Triple Option podcast when asked about who’s the best player in the Draft. “I just think, in my lifetime, very few can do what he can do. I stood next to the guy… watched him. Obviously, we covered him quite a bit. I probably would play him both ways and invest in that guy. He’s a good person.” The former Ohio State and Florida head coach has seen generational talents before — his coaching résumé reads like an NFL All-Pro list — but Hunter? Meyer is convinced he’s something special.

The Heisman winner’s stats back up the hype. In 2024, Hunter cooked defenses and wide receivers alike, posting 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns. On the other side of the ball? Oh, just 36 tackles, four interceptions, and 11 passes defended. Most athletes struggle to be elite at one position. Hunter? He’s out here looking like an NFL Street character with the cheat codes turned on.

And let’s be real, versatility like that is priceless in today’s league. Need a game-changing receiver? He’s got you. Need a lockdown corner? Say less. Meyer’s backing isn’t just coach talk — it’s a confirmation. Urban Meyer showered big love and props for the Georgia native: “He’s got a good skillset that not many — that can do both (offense and defense)? I don’t know that I’ve every seen a guy at that level do both.” There’s something about him when he plays 170 plays and his 168th on offense is blocking down the field with the same energy that he did on play 16.

This begs the question: Why Ain’t Hunter locked in as clear No. 1? While his talent is crazy, NFL teams still hesitate when it comes to two-way players and are low-key worried about a smooth NFL transition from college. But Meyer? He ain’t doubting. He’s doubling down. While Meyer was out here crowning Hunter, Shannon Sharpe was somewhere picking his jaw off the floor after hearing Hunter’s take on Shohei Ohtani. And let’s just say, Unc wasn’t playing.

Uncle Shay Shay nukes Travis Hunter’s diabolical Shohei Otani take

For those living under a rock, Travis Hunter made the bold, bold, claim that being a two-way football star was tougher than what Ohtani does in baseball. And doubled down, “not even comparable.” Now, Ohtani ain’t just any baseball player. He’s an OG unicorn. A walking, talking, home-run-smacking, strikeout-throwing alien who has MVP trophies sitting on top of MVP trophies. So, when Hunter said playing both ways in football was tougher? Yeah, that didn’t sit right with Sharpe.

Unc was ready. “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.” Translation? Hunter might be him on the field, but Ohtani is HIM on the diamond. And Sharpe wasn’t done. When he pulled up on The Stephen A. Smith Show, he doubled down, saying, “The two most difficult things in life are hitting a baseball and keeping a woman happy, long term.” Sharpe, as always, had jokes — but the point still stands. Ohtani is a once-in-a-lifetime baseball player, just like Hunter is in football. The difference? Ohtani’s dominance is proven at the highest level. Hunter? He’s still got to touch an NFL field.

Look, Hunter’s Draft stock is still sitting pretty in the top five, but not quite No. 1. Why? Because while he’s a generational talent, NFL teams are cautious when it comes to two-way players. Not everyone sees him as the surefire bet Urban Meyer does. The teams like Giants, Titans, and Browns are in the market for QB, and edge rushers like Abdul Carter are out here terrorizing offenses.

As for the Shohei Ohtani comparison? Yeah, that was wild. Even Hunter’s biggest fans had to side-eye that one. Ohtani has been racking up awards like it’s a Black Friday sale — 2021 and 2023 AL MVP, 2024 NL MVP, 2024 NL Hank Aaron Award, 2024 NL Silver Slugger. And let’s not forget — he’s the first player ever with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season. That is next-level. Hunter’s confidence is what makes him special, but Unc has a point — some things gotta be earned. If Hunter wants to sit at the table with Ohtani, he’s gotta prove it in the league first.

Urban Meyer might see a No. 1 pick. Shannon Sharpe might see a young star getting a little ahead of himself. But either way, Travis Hunter is about to find out if the NFL sees a future legend. And that? That’s gonna be a must-watch TV.