Video: Travis Hunter Talks Viral Shohei Ohtani Comments, Says Neither Role 'Is Easy'

Travis Hunter responded to criticism after he said playing multiple roles in football is harder than Shohei Ohtani’s role as a two-way player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, admitting that neither role "is easy to do."

"I'll tell you right now, I can't even play baseball, so I know I can't hit a baseball, let alone throw it," Hunter said on Travis Hunter Show (1:48 mark). "I'm just saying what I do is harder. I gotta run nonstop and you gotta get hit. … I know I can't hit no 99-miles-per-hour ball, so I'm not even going to sit there and act like it's just easy to do. No, it's not. Neither is easy to do."

Hunter was initially shocked that he had received backlash at all after first commenting on the situation at the NFL Scouting Combine, telling reporters that football puts a lot on your body. Adding, "Ohtani, he's a great player, but you gotta do a lot in football."

"Backlash? Why? Because I said what I do is harder than what he does?," Hunter said. "First, I'm talking about the physical aspect. I'm not saying anybody can just go out there and play both sides of the ball or anybody can go out there and just do what Ohtani do."

The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner doubled as the team's top cornerback on defense and wide receiver on offense, recording 15 touchdowns with 1,258 yards on offense and 25 solo tackles with four interceptions on defense.

Ohtani, the three-time MVP, has excelled on the mound and at the plate for the Dodgers, who took home the 2024 World Series. The 30-year-old has a career total of 225 home runs over 860 games, with an overall .282/.371/.575 slash line.

There is no arguing the accolades and success between the two athletes in their respective sports, but Hunter stood by his guns and emphasized the addition of the physical aspect in football that makes his role specifically challenging.

"I don't think there’s probably nobody been able to hit as good as him and go out there and throw the baseball better than him," Hunter continued. "So, I'm not saying what I'm doing is way harder than what he does. I'm just saying, on the physical aspect, it is."

In the most recent big board from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department, Hunter is ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the 2025 NFL draft class. He put out an open invitation for others to do what he can do on both ends.

"I want somebody to go out there and try to do the same thing I can do… Like I said, it has never been done at the NFL, the next level," Hunter said. "The physical aspect on your body—try to do that for 12 weeks. I did it for 13."