25-04-2025
Brian Dawkins comments on Travis Hunter's desire to be a full-time two-way NFL player
Brian Dawkins comments on Travis Hunter's desire to be a full-time two-way NFL player
This week, Touchdown Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Philadelphia Eagles legend Brian Dawkins.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Dawkins discussed representing Boehringer & Lilly's "It Takes 2" health initiative, spreading awareness about the importance of getting tested for kidney disease, and sharing his thoughts on Travis Hunter's desire to be a full-time two-way player.
"It's 35 million individuals in the US who have kidney disease. However, the problem is that many people are unaware of this, which is a significant issue. To learn more about the program, visit Information is essential for those individuals who have the conditions of high blood pressure and type two diabetes," said Dawkins, "The reason why I decided to explore more is because once I heard those two conditions, what popped into my head was my parents. I knew that they needed to get this test. It's the same for me, but when I say this, if someone comes to mind who has those conditions, they need this information. They need to be in the know about these tests that need to be done because it could potentially help recognize if I'm going down the path of having kidney disease or even cardiovascular risks at the same time."
Dawkins, who was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, shared his take on the recent Heidman Trophy winner, who hopes to become a full-time two-way player in the NFL.
"I mean, he (Travis Hunter) will play both ways, just not always. He'll play both ways. And he won't be the first to have done it, though; now, he may play more snaps on offense than others who've done it in the past, but we've had these things before. We've had players who have played receiver, running back, and defensive back (examples include Deion Sanders and Champ Bailey). There are, in fact, individuals who have done it. I don't see that element of him playing both ways the whole game. That's not the case; it's a different league. It's different physicality."
Hunter was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday. During his last season at Colorado, he finished the regular season playing nearly 1,400 scrimmage snaps on offense and defense, more than any other player in college football.
"There are different temperaments for the defensive coordinators and players about someone trying to do something like that. I'm telling you, it's just different," said Dawkins, "I want him to be successful, but I believe it will be more of the cornerback position, and then he'll spell in at receiver and probably succeed as a receiver. I think, in his mind, he wants to stay on the field and play. Those days are behind you, and you can now make it something you would love to do. It's too many snaps. It's too much, too much pound on the body. These are grown men like you, and you'll have to deal with them."
