It's difficult to imagine a more successful rookie campaign than what tailback Kareem Hunt put together for the Kansas City Chiefs last season.
The records are well documented – his 246 yards from scrimmage in Week 1 were the most ever in a player's debut, his seven-straight games with over 100 yards of offense were the most ever to begin a career and his 1,327 yards on the ground were a franchise rookie record.
He was just the sixth rookie in NFL history to claim the league rushing title and only the second to do so drafted outside of the first round.
The list goes on and on in one of the most remarkable rookie seasons in Chiefs' lore.
It earned the former third-round pick some much deserved recognition from around the league, but with last season in the books, Hunt is ready for more.
"I feel like I'm getting (respect) now, but coming up I definitely didn't feel I was getting the respect I deserved," Hunt said on Good Morning Football on Thursday. "I just put that right here (in my mind) and now you have to show and be about it."
Hunt's versatility is what made the University of Toledo product such a unique weapon in 2017.
In addition to his league-best efforts on the ground, Hunt hauled in 53 passes for 455 yards and three touchdowns.
It's an opportunity the 22-year-old wants even more of next season.
"I definitely love that," Hunt said of catching the ball. "Anytime I can get the ball I love it, especially in the open field and not having to go through the big boys in the trenches all the time, so I like getting the ball in the open space."
He was awfully effective when he found it, as his 1,782 yards from scrimmage ranked third in the league. Fittingly enough, checking in just above him on that list was one of Hunt's idols in Pittsburgh Steelers' running back Le'Veon Bell.
"I want to be known as a guy who can do it all," Hunt said. "Le'Veon is a great receiver out of the backfield and route-runner, and I definitely want to show more of that."
And as a matter of fact, the rookie has already caught Bell's attention.
"He's a player that people will come in and have to prepare for next year," said Bell at the Pro Bowl. "He runs the ball hard, he can read holes really well, he can catch the ball out of the backfield and he picks up pass protection. Just getting to know him out here the last few days, he has a great personality and he'll be in this league for a long time."
With Bell's respect already in hand, there's no telling what Hunt can accomplish in his second campaign as a professional.
