BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is on track to receive a special award this season, one that once belonged to his coach, Deion Sanders, who won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988. However, it seems that Sanders is willing to part with his accolade after Hunter was snubbed as a finalist for this prestigious honor, which recognizes the top defensive back in college football. Sanders voiced his frustration over the situation, expressing disbelief that Hunter was overlooked.
“How is it possible that Travis Hunter was not considered for the Jim Thorpe Award?” Sanders lamented. The Colorado Buffaloes, now ranked 23rd with a record of 8-3 and 6-2 in the Big 12, are set to finish their regular season against Oklahoma State. They need a victory coupled with other outcomes to secure a spot in the conference championship match. “They can have my award,” he continued. “I’m happy to return it. It’s just collecting dust on my shelf right now.”
The finalists announced this week included Jahdae Barron from Texas, Caleb Downs of Ohio State, and Georgia’s Malaki Starks, but Hunter’s name was noticeably absent. Despite being targeted infrequently due to his exceptional coverage skills, Hunter has recorded three interceptions and nine pass breakups this season. He also played a crucial role in a hard-fought overtime victory against Baylor by forcing a game-ending fumble.
“What an unfortunate mistake for college football that he isn’t recognized as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award,” Sanders commented. “They’ve essentially tarnished the integrity of the award, and I’ll gladly give him mine. Whoever is responsible for the voting clearly made an oversight here.” It is worth noting that the Jim Thorpe Award is one of the few accolades not already linked to Hunter this season, during which he has excelled on both offense and defense. He’s also a contender for several other awards including the Maxwell, Biletnikoff, Bednarik, Paul Hornung, and Walter Camp awards.
Furthermore, Hunter is a frontrunner for the prestigious Heisman Trophy, as he has frequently played every snap during games. He stands out as a critical part of Colorado’s offense, having caught 82 passes for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns, all while remaining a standout performer on defense.
In another development, Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son and the starting quarterback for Colorado, narrowly avoided a serious injury during a recent game against Kansas. He took a worrying hit from defensive end Dean Miller, who hit his legs right after Sanders released a pass in their 37-21 defeat.
Deion Sanders revealed that both Coach Lance Leipold of Kansas and Miller reached out to discuss the incident. He noted that Miller would reach out to Shedeur to apologize. “He’s going to express his regrets, and Shedeur will accept it because he’s not upset,” Deion stated. “Let’s not blow this out of proportion; it was a moment in the heat of competition. I understand the intensity, but they’ll communicate, and there are no hard feelings.”
As for the future of both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, the upcoming game against Oklahoma State may be their last in a Colorado uniform, as they are poised to become potential top picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. Nevertheless, Deion Sanders was optimistic about their future, downplaying the narrative that their last game was upon them. He assured fans that even if the Buffaloes do not advance to the Big 12 championship, both players could still participate in a bowl game.
“They will not be leaving Colorado just yet,” Deion remarked. “Both of these players, along with our seniors, have put in tremendous effort to elevate our program and instill high expectations both in our fan base and within our team.”
He concluded, “We will strive to finish strong and secure a spot in a bowl game to conclude this season positively.”