The National Football League is an adjustment for anybody, even the best collegiate players out there.
Some find success early, but most eventually hit the metaphorical "rookie wall" a handful of games into their career and their production slows down.
It's a simple reality for rookies as they transition to the grind of professional football, and it's usually to be expected.
But Kareem Hunt is no ordinary rookie.
Kansas City's third-round pick out of the University of Toledo is showing no signs of slowing down this season, tallying an NFL-record seven-straight games with 100-plus yards of offense to begin his career.
All seven of those performances add up to a league-leading 1,002 yards from scrimmage and an entry into the record books, as Hunt is one of just two players to ever rack up 1,000 yards of offense in his first seven career games.
The other guy to do that is none other than Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, who also seemed to avoid the proverbial rookie wall en route to a legendary career.
Hunt has broken off big runs, muscled ahead for the tough yards and he's even hauled in 25 catches in what's been an incredible stretch of football.
He's simply been remarkable, and hasn't let the bruising life of a tailback hinder his production.
"We have a lot of trust in him and think he's doing well," said Head Coach Andy Reid. "I mean it's the National Football League, I'm not telling you he's waking up after games wanting to go run a marathon, but that's part of this position and I think he's doing a heck of a job."
Hunt talked about the need to keep his body in shape way back in Week 4 as his production began to pile up.
"It's all about just taking care of your body every day and doing little things," Hunt said. "Even when you're not that sore, you just have to keep working to get your body all the way back together. You just take it day-by-day and week-by-week."
The rookie tailback has been doing just that and hasn't taken any days off, touching the ball at least 14 times in each of Kansas City's seven contests, and has done his best work when it matters most.
Hunt amassed 433 yards of offense in the fourth quarter alone through Kansas City's first six games, more than six entire teams had mustered, and averaged 4.3 yards per touch in the final period on Thursday night against Oakland.
"He was strong again in the fourth quarter," Reid said. "We have a lot of trust in him there."
Hunt's durability is nothing new, as he touched the ball 303 times his senior year at Toledo, but it's also a tribute to the Chiefs' coaching staff.
"(Running Backs Coach) Eric Bieniemy does a phenomenal job at that stuff along with our trainers and Barry (Rubin), our strength coach," Reid said. "We rotate him in enough, too, so he gets a breather in there."
The Chiefs have complemented Hunt with fellow tailbacks Charcandrick West, Akeem Hunt and the newly signed C.J. Spiller in an effort to keep his legs fresh, and it's paying dividends, as he hasn't skipped a beat as the workhorse of the offense.
And with plenty of season left, Hunt is on pace to shatter the franchise record for rushing yards by a rookie set by Joe Delaney in 1981 (1,121).
It's been a season to remember already for Hunt, and if his steady excellence is any indication, he has plenty more to accomplish.
