Thinking about the last to ever do it reminds us of the current sensational dual position threat of our generation. Yes, none other than Travis Hunter. Isn’t he like literally one of Deion Sanders Children at this point, for the special relationship he has with his coach. The dude is always stealing Coach Prime’s shoes that Lebron James sent him. He also is the perfect role model for Hunter’s two-way football stardom.

He keeps his coach happy with his unmatched versatility week after week. Taking steps closer to his Heisman dreams with each game. In his latest performance, he reeled in nine catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati, along with near-constant defensive pressure. His coach’s advice to keep it going is, “He always tell me ‘stay low’ on the defensive side of the ball and ‘be you’ on the offensive side of the ball. ‘Believe in yourself and have fun.” But he isn’t the first of this breed. NFL HOFer Charles Woodson has been there done that, and won the Heisman.

Charles Woodson: The last air bender

Charles Woodson, like Hunter and Sanders, played offense and defense in college. His two-way efforts won him the Heisman Trophy in 1997. With no short of a legend status. A dynamic presence on both sides of the ball, he played cornerback but also took snaps as a wide receiver and even returned punts. Contributing to Michigan’s perfect season and national championship run. What makes Woodson’s Heisman win truly iconic is that he remains the only defensive player in history to win the award—an achievement still unrivaled over two decades later.

Woodson hails from Fremont, Ohio, and starred at Ross High. He tallied five interceptions in his Heisman-winning year, anchoring a Wolverines defense that was like a steel curtain, giving up only 9.5 points per game. But his versatility went beyond just defending. In the clutch game against Ohio State, Woodson pulled off a 78-yard punt return touchdown, sparking Michigan’s win and sealing his Heisman case. That season, the last 2-way phenom also managed to snag 11 passes for 231 yards and score a touchdown on offense.

The former 1998 NFL draft pick no. 4 marked his legacy in the big league with Oakland Raiders and the Packers as one of the best. Imagine winning the CFB’s best individual trophy in your junior year, one could only dream, Woodson has done it. Not just a talent, Woodson was a trendsetter, creating a blueprint for future hopefuls like Travis Hunter, who, over 25 years later, seems to be following Woodson’s two-way path toward Heisman glory.

Today’s two-way phenomenon

Fast forward to 2024, and Travis Hunter of the Buffs looks like college football’s next two-way sensation. In Boulder, Hunter has been impressively pulling double duty, much like Woodson. Well, why is he the favorite? He has two reasons for it. Making game-changing plays on both ends with 604 receiving yards. But while Woodson leaned heavily on his cornerback skills, the 6-foot-1 two-way player is perhaps even more ambitious, splitting time as a cornerback and a wide receiver—a role that’s demanding enough even as a single position.

With the 2024 Heisman race heating up. The Buffs star’s versatility makes him a unique and compelling candidate—one that echoes Woodson’s legacy while forging his own path. Whether he can win and join Woodson in the two-way Heisman club is yet to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: He’s making a strong case, one game-changing play at a time.