Travis Hunter has emerged as a standout player for the Colorado Buffaloes, known for his exceptional versatility on the field. He seamlessly transitions from being a top-tier receiver to a formidable cornerback, rarely leaving the field and consistently making significant plays. Hunter’s celebrations are equally impressive, featuring creative dance moves after both touchdowns and interceptions, including the iconic Heisman Trophy pose—a testament to his exceptional performance this season.
Hunter’s accolades have solidified his status in college football, as he was named the Associated Press college football player of the year, earning 26 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Following closely was Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty with 16 votes, while Arizona State’s Cameron Skattebo received one vote. Later, he added more awards to his collection, including the Walter Camp Award for player of the year, the Chuck Bednarik Award for the top defensive player, and the Biletnikoff Award for the best wide receiver.
In an email while attending an awards event in Las Vegas, Hunter humbly stated, “I couldn’t do what I do without my team. So I view being up for these awards as team awards.” While Hunter was not a finalist for the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award, which was awarded to Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron, his coach, Deion Sanders, expressed his discontentment at Hunter’s omission. Sanders, a former recipient of the award in 1988, pledged to pass his trophy to Hunter.
Ashton Jeanty also had a noteworthy night, clinching the Maxwell Award as college football’s premier player and the Doak Walker Award as the top running back after leading the nation with 2,497 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. Miami’s Cam Ward was awarded the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year for his outstanding performance, including a national-best 36 passing touchdowns combined with 4,123 passing yards.
Curt Cignetti of Indiana was recognized as Coach of the Year after leading his team to the playoffs despite being projected to finish 17th out of 18 in the Big Ten. South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard earned the Bronco Nagurski Trophy for the top defensive player, with impressive stats of 11.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss, while Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin, an Alabama transfer, picked up the Rimington Trophy.
Among other prestigious awards, the Ray Guy Award for the top punter went to USC’s Eddie Czaplicki, with Louisiana’s Kenneth Almendares winning the Lou Groza Award for the best placekicker. Georgia’s Jalon Walker claimed the Butkus Award as the top linebacker, while Texas’s Kelvin Banks Jr. took home the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman. Tyler Warren from Penn State was awarded the John Mackey Award for being the standout tight end of the year after setting school records with 67 receptions for 808 receiving yards.
Jalen Milroe from Alabama received the William V. Campbell Award, recognizing him as the top scholar-athlete, while Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher was celebrated with the Burlsworth Trophy for best player who began as a walk-on. However, it was Hunter who was the highlight of the evening.
Hunter is a unique talent reminiscent of historical dual-threat players like Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. His decision to follow Coach Sanders to Boulder was driven by the promise of significant participation on both sides of the ball. “Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I’m doing,” Hunter remarked, hinting at his potential as a top-five pick in the upcoming NFL draft or perhaps even the first overall selection. “He did it and knows what it takes—how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball,” he added.
Hunter thrives on challenges, stating that he finds motivation in being told he cannot succeed at a high level on both offense and defense. He aims to be an inspiration for others, demonstrating that with perseverance, dreams can be achieved. During the season, he was instrumental in leading the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a commendable 9-3 record, securing a spot in the Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU on December 28. Hunter’s remarkable statistics include 688 snaps on defense and 672 on offense, making him the only player in a Power Five conference to cross the 30-snap threshold in both roles.
Having already clinched his second consecutive Paul Hornung award for versatility, Hunter is seen as a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, vying to join the late Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado player to earn the prestigious honor since Salaam won it in 1994. Hunter’s high school coach, Lenny Gregory, recognized his unique abilities early on. During a demanding conditioning test in Hunter’s freshman summer, he outperformed his peers with ease.
Remarkably, despite facing skepticism from college scouts, Gregory was always confident in Hunter’s potential, famously predicting he would become the top player in the country. This season, Hunter distinguished himself with 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns while also contributing defensively with four interceptions and eleven pass breakups. He consistently demonstrated dominance, being targeted 119 times by opponents, while allowing only 22 completions against him.
Overall, Hunter’s season finale against Oklahoma State showcased his talents, achieving three touchdowns and an interception, and proving once again why he is considered one of the most extraordinary talents in college football today. Nonetheless, teammates like Shedeur Sanders are accustomed to seeing Hunter’s talent, reinforcing the idea that he has always been a standout performer on the field.
