Earlier this week the GPAs of top potential draft picks like former Colorado football star Travis Hunter and Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins caught attention.
Both were named to the Academic All-America Team - Hunter was a first-team selection while Judkins was a second-team addition. Given their academic success, the attention has turned to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce who didn't have quite the same academic resume.
The tight end who is in search of his fourth Super Bowl ring next weekend was suspended from Cincinnati's football team due to a violation of team policy before his final collegiate season. One of the mandates for Kelce to earn his spot back was that he reach a 3.0 GPA in the semester.
In a piece from the Kansas City Star, former head coach Butch Jones revealed Jason Kelce's plea to the coach about his younger brother.
“Jason’s like, ‘Don’t give up on him, Coach. Please, please don’t give up on him,’” Jones recalled, adding. “I never, ever once thought of giving up on him. You now, Travis is a very truthful person. I knew his heart and I knew his character. I loved Travis Kelce. But sometimes you have to give someone some tough love.”
The future Hall of Fame tight end went on to secure a 3.2.
“He jokes about it to this day — that he never had a 3.0 in his life,” Jones said at the time.
Kelce is well beyond needed to rely on academic success as he and the Chiefs prepare for their fifth Super Bowl appearance in the past six seasons.
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