The homepage of Fit Factory’s website
(www.gofitfactory.com) features this
testimonial from Franklin III:
“I have been with Coach Trav for about
four years now, and it has been a
blessing just to have him in my corner;
from football to track he has made
sure that I was the best whenever I
stepped foot on both the field and the
track. He believed in [me] from HS to
FSU all the way to my journey to EMCC
and now he has just gotten me ready
to go dominate the SEC at Auburn!
Watch his work show when I show up
and show out this season WAR DAMN
EAGLE!”
Franklin III was highly coveted for
his reported sub-4.3 second speed
in the 40-yard dash. A track and
field standout at FSU, he couldn’t
have chosen a better-suited workout
partner than Shelton, who broke
Temple’s school record with 2,507
kickoff return yards after finishing
eighth nationally in the 60 meters in
high school.
Shelton grew up racing, and
occasionally beating, Hester at family
reunion picnics every summer in
Florida. He and Hester, the NFL’s
record-holder for most career return
touchdowns (punt and kick combined)
and punt return touchdowns, also
28
Fall 2016
coachandplayer.com
included Davis, who played for the
Browns, Broncos and Bills during a
10-year NFL career, in their childhood
foot races.
These days, Shelton is content helping
others achieve their athletic dreams.
Among them is former University of
Central Florida standout (2006-10)
Jamar Newsome, who has spent time
on the rosters of the Jaguars, Steelers,
Chiefs and Cowboys and recently
moved to South Florida with the
hopes of joining another team.
“I was linked up with Travis through
a mutual friend,” Newsome said. “I
knew he was a ballplayer also. It was a
no-brainer. I definitely wanted to work
with him because he knows his stuff.
He knows how to fine-tune a body.
He understands the game. …I’m just
happy to be in his space.”
Added Newsome: “He’s not going
to make you do everything else that
everybody else does like some trainers
would.
He’s going to pick and piece together
exactly what he wants from you and
what is going to help you grow. …
He trains football players, basketball
players, up-and-coming track stars,
and you can gain from him no matter
what your level is.”
Newsome said he has worked with
trainers across a broad spectrum
throughout his career, and what
sets Shelton apart from most is the
personalized attention he gives clients,
as well as the unique plans he has for
each. “You can’t train everybody the
same way,” Newsome noted. “It has
to be strategic for each individual. And
that’s what Travis does.”
Jerome Thomas, Jr., a former Texas
Southern University defensive back
from Miami trying to continue his
professional career in the CFL after
being cut by the Washington Redskins,
said he chose to train with Shelton at
Fit Factory based on feedback from
friends who’d worked with Shelton
previously.
“Trav has been through some of
the same things I’m going through
right now so he can relate to more
than just training – he can talk to
you about life,” Thomas Jr. said. “In
that aspect, it makes it fun to come
and train. He’s really helped me with
my speed, explosiveness and core
strength. …I definitely recommend
this facility. I can go a lot of places,
but this is where I want to be, and I
can get quality work. If you come in
here lackadaisical, he’s going to pick
you up, make you work and you leave
feeling good.”
Above: Franz Muller (right) training a client