Travis Hunter: A Versatile Talent Meeting Heisman Expectations Under Coach Deion Sanders

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Travis Hunter, the multi-faceted starting player for the Colorado Buffaloes, is swiftly validating the high expectations he set for himself, much in the same manner as Deion Sanders, the celebrated coach he chose to follow to Colorado.

“Travis embodies the essence of a top-tier player, as people in younger generations would put it,” Coach Deion Sanders remarked. Sanders himself was a dual-threat player in both college and professional football. “In a word, Travis has ‘arrived.'”

In his season debut, Hunter demonstrated his prowess on both offense and defense, participating in 129 plays during Colorado’s surprising 45-42 victory over the 17th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs.

“After the game, I can confidently say that I dominated the field,” Hunter stated. “Despite initial skepticism due to my self-rating as the number one Heisman contender, I am now receiving acclaim. The public and the coaching staff have finally acknowledged my potential.”

Prior to the onset of the season, Hunter signaled his ambitions in a social media post that featured him in his Colorado Buffaloes uniform with the caption, “HEISMAN LOADING….”

Despite it being just the first game of a rigorous season, Hunter’s stellar showing during his and his coach’s Power Five debut came against a TCU team that participated in the previous year’s national championship game. Hunter was among the 87 new recruits on a Colorado team that was considered a significant underdog in a high-temperature game.

“The physical demands are considerable, but that’s what medical treatments are for,” said the 6-foot-1, 185-pound cornerback and receiver. “I’m ready for the next game. My primary aim is to contribute to the team’s success, whether it’s on offense or defense.”

Hunter’s standout moments included a remarkable end-zone interception after TCU had driven 95 yards from their own one-yard line, as well as breaking up another potential touchdown pass. On offense, he caught 11 passes, including a remarkable 43-yard catch under defensive pressure, all of which contributed to a rapid succession of touchdowns by both teams in the second half.

This coming Saturday, Colorado faces former Big Eight and Big 12 rival Nebraska, in what will be the highlight game on Fox’s “Big Noon Kick Off” national broadcast for the second consecutive week.

Hunter was the nation’s top high school recruit when he shocked the college football world in December 2021 by opting for Jackson State, an FCS school, over Florida State to play under Sanders. During his freshman year at the Mississippi-based historically black college, Hunter concluded the season with notable statistics on both sides of the ball.

When Sanders was appointed as the head coach for a Colorado team that had struggled in the previous season, Hunter, along with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the coach’s son, migrated with him to Colorado following Jackson State’s back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference titles.

“It’s astounding that our prior accomplishments have been amplified, as we’re now competing at a higher level,” said Shedeur Sanders, who set a school record by throwing for 510 yards in his Colorado debut.

Hunter’s 119 receiving yards in the game put him in an elite category as one of only four 100-yard receivers for Colorado that day. Moreover, he became the first FBS player in over two decades to accumulate 100 receiving yards and an interception in the same game.

“Two missed opportunities for deep balls could have virtually assured his Heisman candidacy,” Sanders said in a halftime interview with Fox.

For additional information on college football, please visit College Football News and AP Top 25 College Football Poll.

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More about Travis Hunter

• College Football News
• AP Top 25 College Football Poll
• Heisman Trophy Official Website
• Colorado Buffaloes Official Athletic Site
• NCAA Official Website
• Deion Sanders’ Coaching Profile
• Travis Hunter’s College Stats
• Big 12 Conference Official Website
• TCU Horned Frogs Official Athletic Site
• Fox’s Big Noon Kick Off