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Travis Kelce’s college suspension led him to tight end room

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Suzanne Halliburton | Last updated 7/11/23

If not for a good time in the French Quarter and a failed drug test, Travis Kelce might not be one of the best tight ends ever or even playing in the NFL.

Because at one time during his college career with the Cincinnati Bearcats, he was a wildcat quarterback as well as a tight end. He might not have been as dedicated as he should be. So he was happy to be a part of the Cincy team when the Bearkats made the 2010 Sugar Bowl against Florida. (The Gators won the game, 51-24. Then again, did you expect anything else in Tim Tebow‘s final game as a Gator?)

Travis Kelce did some partying in New Orleans as one does in the Big Easy. But he had a bit too much fun. He had to do an NCAA mandated drug screen and tested positive for marijuana. The flunked test cost him a year’s eligibility.

Keep in mind, Kelce wasn’t a big-time prospect. He followed his older brother, Jason Kelce, to the Bearcats. The On3 industry composite ranked Travis Kelce as No. 1075 among the high school senior prospects in 2008. He was considered only the 67th best tight end. However, in high school, he played quarterback, rushing for more than 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns and throwing for 1,500 with 21 scores and eight interceptions.

Travis Kelce credits flunked drug test for refocusing on tight end

Thirteen years later, Kelce was talking about what unfolded at the Sugar Bowl during a session with Bussin’ with the Boys. Yep, Kelce admits he’s a cautionary tale.

“I got kicked out of college because of it,” Travis Kelce said of the flunked drug test. “I partied a little too much down there, got hit with a drug test and from that point on, I realized I gotta tighten the f—- up.”

After he regained his eligibility at Cincinnati, Kelce became more of a traditional tight end.

“What it did was it really kicked me into the tight end room. I was still playing QB then,” Travis Kelce said of the suspension. “It was like, ‘Alright, you can come walk on the team, but we don’t need a quarterback. You can just be an athlete on scout team for a year, we’ll figure it out.'”

By his senior year, he’d figured it out. He caught 45 passes for 722 yards with eight touchdowns. The Chiefs selected Kelce in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Two Super Bowl victories, eight Pro Bowls and five NFL records later, that positive drug screen did turn out to be a positive for Travis Kelce’s career.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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