The Kelce brothers will always remember the one college season they played together. Travis might owe his career to the year they didn’t.
Jason was lightly recruited as a linebacker and running back — he averaged 9.5 yards per carry at Cleveland Heights High — and walked on at Cincinnati. He earned the scout team defensive MVP as a freshman in 2006. In 2007, Brian Kelly replaced Mark Dantonio as coach before the season and needed quick offensive linemen to run his spread scheme. Strength coach Paul Longo told Jason, “You know, son, you’d make a great center.
Teammates remembered Jason just as much for his wry sense of humor. The offensive line gathered on Sundays to review film. Jason would ask Chris Jurek, Cincinnati’s center and team leader, to rewind a play as if he had a question. Then he would point out a teammate who had tripped and fallen. “That was the room we had,” said Jurek, now the strength coach at San Diego State. “We could mess with each other and joke around. At the same time, we knew we were going to line up for each other.
Travis would venture out to clubs and bars, dressed to the nines and eager to mingle. Teammates respected how Travis worked, but he became prominent in UC’s social scene. “He didn’t have a lot of adversity as a player because he was so gifted,” Jason said.Both brothers loved to dance; Travis was exceptional, and what Jason lacked in grace, he made up for with enthusiasm.
Jason fumed and chased Travis around the house. Travis barricaded himself in a room. After Jason couldn’t bash in the locked door, he blasted a hole through the drywall and confronted his younger brother. Without a scholarship, Travis worked at a call center to make spending money, phoning people in Southern Ohio, Eastern Indiana and Northern Kentucky to promote Obamacare. “People weren’t too happy about that at that point in time,” Travis said. “So I was just getting yelled at every single day.”
“I’m forever in debt for what he was doing and how much he was really promoting me in that building to be able to change and do the right things,” Travis said. “I wouldn’t be here without my brother. His competitiveness, his leadership — there’s no way I’d be here without him.”
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How Their Podcast Has Made Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce Even CloserJason Kelce and Travis Kelce have a wildly popular podcast but it's also strengthened their bond.
Read more »
Brothers Jason and Travis Kelce grew up amid 'enjoyable chaos' before their football careersJason and Travis Kelce will make NFL history when they face off in Sunday's Super Bowl. But their bond has always been about more than football.
Read more »
Jason and Travis Kelce's Mom Donna Reveals Her Fave Son of the MomentDonna Kelce is sharing which son she prefers a little more off the field: 'Right now, Jason's a little ahead because of the grandchildren.' SuperBowlLVII
Read more »
Donna Kelce brings cookies for sons at Super Bowl openerMother Donna Kelce of All-Pros Travis and Jason Kelce surprised her sons during an interview with NFL Network's Michael Irvin with two batches of cookies — one for each.
Read more »
Patrick Mahomes vs. Jalen Hurts, Andy Reid, Kelce brothers: Super Bowl 57 storylines to followAndy Reid could double his Super Bowl ring collection, brothers Jason and Travis Kelce are now households names and the Eagles offseason moves are among the top storylines for SuperBowl 57
Read more »
Donna Kelce surprised her sons with cookies during a Super Bowl opening night interviewOnce a football mom, always a football mom. Just ask Donna Kelce. Whether it's peewee football or the Super Bowl, nothing satisfies a football player's appetite like Mom's home-baked cookies. ...
Read more »