Kansas City running back Kareem Hunt knows the Chiefs have questions to answer heading into 2018.
Hunt, named PFWA Rookie of the Year on Thursday, took an afternoon to enjoy his memorable rookie season. Hunt spent Friday signing cards at a Panini America event at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. It's quite a whirlwind for the rookie considering where he started in training camp. Hunt was just trying to find a niche behind starter Spencer Ware.
"I was picturing myself helping out the team any way possible and I was doing a lot of special teams and things like that," Hunt told Sporting News. "When (Ware) went down, I knew I had to step up and take a big role."
Hunt, a third-round pick out of Toledo, took advantage of the opportunity. He totaled 1,782 yards from scrimmage (1,327 rush, 455 receiving) and 11 total TDs, which wasn't all that far from the 1,878 total yards (1,475 rush, 403 receiving) and 11 total TDs he racked up in his senior season with the Rockets in the Mid-American Conference.
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It didn't take Hunt long to make an introduction. He totaled 148 rushing yards, 98 receiving yards and three total TDs in the Thursday night opener against New England.
"I didn't want there to be any drop-off on the offense," Hunt said. "I knew what I could do, and I just wanted to go out there and make plays."
Hunt helped Kansas City finish 10-6 in the regular season. The Chiefs lost a 22-21 heartbreaker to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC wild-card game on Jan. 6. Now, the Chiefs have a quarterback dilemma with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes II. Hunt said that's a situation where there's no choice but to "be prepared for anything" and added that Smith was a huge help in his rookie season.
"Alex is just such a great leader and he definitely knows about everything about the offense," Hunt said. "He knows he is, and when he goes out there he's tough. I know Alex is a winner, and I love having guys like that on our team."
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Hunt won't be a question mark for the Chiefs in 2018. He's part of a standout rookie running back class along with Jacksonville's Leonard Fournette and New Orleans' Alvin Kamara, who also helped their respective teams reach the postseason. Hunt admitted he doesn't know much about fantasy football but enjoyed the volume of messages he received on Twitter and Instagram. He's already picturing more for 2018.
"Just keep getting better and not got comfortable," Hunt said. "I want to get better with every year."
Hunt spent Friday signing autographs as part of a promotion with Panini America is the exclusive trading card partner of the NFL.
"I'm signing my arm off right now," he said, "but it's for a good cause."
For more on those cards, visit https://store.paniniamerica.net.
