Tag: Travis Hunter

Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter (12) following an interception in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado’s Travis Hunter collects unique double at college football awards

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado star Travis Hunter cemented his legacy as the best two-way player in recent decades by becoming the first in college football history to win both the annual Chuck Bednarik Award as top defensive player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award as best wide receiver on Thursday night.

College Football Awards show presenters called Hunter’s name again as the Walter Camp Award for player of the year.

The honors may serve as a prelude to the Saturday night Heisman Trophy presentation, as Hunter is favored to capture the sport’s biggest individual award.

Earlier Thursday, the wide receiver/cornerback was named the Associated Press college football player of the year.

Hunter helped the No. 20 Buffaloes (9-3) earn a berth in the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2), playing 688 snaps on defense and 672 on offense. He has 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns to go along with 32 tackles, four interceptions and 11 passes defensed in 12 games.

He already won his second straight Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player.

Another most outstanding player honor, the Maxwell Award, went Thursday night to Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, also a Heisman finalist.

Jeanty also received the Doak Walker Award as best running back. He has rushed for an FBS-leading 2,497 yards and is tied for first with 29 rushing touchdowns in 13 games.

Another Heisman finalist, Miami’s Cam Ward, collected the Davey O’Brien Award as college football’s best quarterback. He beat out Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, the latter also one of four Heisman finalists.

Ward joined Gino Torretta and Vinny Testaverde as Davey O’Brien winners from the Hurricanes.

Ward, the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, leads the FBS with 36 touchdown passes (against only seven interceptions) and is second with 4,123 passing yards and 343.6 yards per game.

Hunter did not receive the Jim Thorpe Award as best defensive back. That went to Texas’ Jahdae Barron.

Other winners of individual awards included Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin (Rimmington Award), Louisiana kicker Kenneth Almendares (Lou Groza Award), Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (Butkus Award), Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (John Mackey Award), Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (Outland Trophy for best interior lineman), Southern California punter Eddie Czaplicki (Ray Guy Award), South Carolina defensive end Kyle Kennard (Bronko Nagurski Trophy for defensive player of the year), Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher (Burlsworth Trophy for top former walk-on), Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (William V. Campbell Trophy/Academic Heisman), and Penn State offensive lineman Nick Dawkins (Wuerffel Trophy for community service).

Curt Cignetti, in his first season at Indiana, received the Home Depot Award as coach of the year. The No. 10 Hoosiers (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten Conference) face No. 7 Notre Dame in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 20.

Indiana went 3-9 in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) during the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter named AP player of the year

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter was named the Associated Press 2025 college football player of the year on Thursday.

The wide receiver/cornerback received 26 of 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters, with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty placing second with 16 votes. Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo got the other vote.

Hunter helped the No. 20 Buffaloes (9-3) earn a berth in the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2), playing 688 snaps on defense and 672 on offense. He has 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns to go along with 32 tackles, four interceptions and 11 passes defensed in 12 games.

Hunter already won his second straight Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player. He is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and also up for the Walter Camp, Maxwell, Biletnikoff and Bednarik awards.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) carries for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado’s Travis Hunter to enter draft, vows to be full-time CB and WR in NFL

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter plans to turn pro and prefers to continue a dual role, playing wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL.

Hunter could be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and is the favorite for the Heisman Trophy.

Speculation about his future quieted as he gained notoriety by the week this season. Field Level Media projects Hunter as a top-three pick in the draft, and he confirmed Thursday this will be his last season at the college level.

“That’s definitely for sure,” Hunter said on a conference call with reporters.

Hunter is consistently playing between 100 and 125 snaps per game for Colorado. He has three interceptions on defense with 74 receptions, 911 yards and nine touchdowns playing wideout for quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Also a projected early first-round pick, Sanders committed to play in the East-West Shrine Game in Dallas. The son of Colorado head coach and Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders said Thursday he would cast a Heisman vote for Hunter.

“If it’s between me and him, I would want him to get it,” Sanders said. “He does a lot of amazing things and things that haven’t been done before. I’m not a selfish guy. I know what he’s capable of, so I would rather him win.”

Hunter said he would invite his QB to New York if he’s not named a Heisman finalist before they go about the business of finishing the season, possibly in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Shedeur Sanders said he’s the best quarterback in the draft, and doesn’t believe that’s anything new.

“I feel like I was the best quarterback in the last draft, too,” said Shedeur Sanders. “Ever since I was draft eligible, I knew I’m the best quarterback. It’s not up for me to prove myself to talking about why.”

Former teammates at Jackson State where Deion Sanders also coached, Hunter said he felt his draft stock began to rise only after critics moved past “the hate” for his coach. A flashy, charismatic cornerback in the NFL after starring at Florida State, Deion Sanders was the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Hall of Famers Troy Aikman (first, Cowboys), Barry Sanders (third, Lions) and Derrick Thomas (fourth, Chiefs) were chosen ahead of “Prime Time” along with offensive tackle Tony Mandarich (second, Packers).

Hunter has picked the brain of Deion Sanders about a dual role in pro sports. Sanders was used selectively as a wide receiver and returned punts but was primarily a cornerback in addition to playing Major League Baseball.

There’s no base-stealing in Hunter’s future, but he does believe he can push the envelope as a full-time two-way NFL player.

“It’s never been done,” Hunter said. “I understand that it will be a high risk, (teams) don’t want their top pick to go down too early, and I know they’re going to want me to be in a couple packages. But I believe I can do it. Nobody has stopped me from doing it thus far. I like when people tell me I can’t do it.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) dives for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado star Travis Hunter first Big 12 POTW on offense, defense

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado star wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter earned a unique accolade on Monday because of his abilities on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Hunter was named the Big 12’s offensive player of the week, becoming the first player in conference history to have won both offensive and defensive player of the week honors.

He played 132 total snaps on Saturday in a 34-23 win over Cincinnati, setting a career high with 153 receiving yards on nine receptions, with touchdowns of 3 and 34 yards.

The Heisman Trophy candidate — a consensus All-American in 2023 — had collected the defensive award after his performance in the Buffaloes’ 28-9 victory over Colorado State on Sept. 14. The junior made five tackles, one interception and one pass breakup.

For the season, Hunter has 20 tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, two interceptions and a Big 12-best seven pass breakups as Colorado has become bowl eligible at 6-2 (4-1 conference).

Hunter, who has battled a shoulder injury that caused him to miss portions of games, leads the Big 12 with eight TD catches, is tied for first with 60 receptions and is third with 757 receiving yards.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) dives as he catches a pass during the second half against the Baylor Bears at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Travis Hunter, Colorado brace for test from Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Two-way Heisman Trophy hopeful Travis Hunter will be back in action for Colorado on Saturday when the Buffaloes oppose Arizona in Tucson, Ariz.

Hunter missed the second half of Colorado’s 31-28 loss to then-No. 18 Kansas State last week because of a right shoulder injury.

The junior, a standout at wide receiver and cornerback, figures to defend Wildcats All-America candidate receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

“I think (Hunter’s) impact of the game and his ability to impact both sides of the ball is incredible,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “I think that’s one of those challenges when you’re playing this team is that you know he is on the field.”

Hunter hurt his shoulder in the second quarter against visiting Kansas State when he was tackled on a 14-yard reception. On the season, he has 49 receptions for 587 yards with six touchdowns to go along with 17 tackles and two interceptions.

Colorado receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., who sustained a leg injury early in the Kansas State game, likely will play Saturday, according to coach Deion Sanders. He has 26 receptions for 347 yards.

Two other receivers for Colorado (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) who also were injured against Kansas State — Omarion Miller and Terrell Timmons Jr. — will not play at Arizona. Miller is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a leg injury.

Regardless of health, Sanders expects to see a better effort from his players this week.

The coach said at the start of the practice week, “The guys took it upon themselves and they came out certainly with a different attitude. Sometimes you get intoxicated with winning and thinking that you are really like that. Saturday was a wake-up call for a multitude of us.”

One of the Buffaloes’ biggest tests will be trying to slow McMillan, whom Sanders called “one of the best receivers in the nation and certainly a pro.”

McMillan ranks third nationally with 742 receiving yards on 42 catches. He has four receiving touchdowns.

Arizona (3-3, 1-2) is coming off a 41-19 loss at BYU last week, its second straight defeat. The Wildcats lost at home to Texas Tech the previous week.

Arizona is also enduring impactful injuries, with starting defensive backs Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado reportedly out with season-ending leg injuries.

“A year ago, this team was 3-3, which is where we sit today,” said Brennan, in his first year at Arizona after inheriting a program that went 10-3 with a win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. “The only difference between those things is how we feel about it because of the expectations going into the season, and so now all of a sudden, it feels worse.

“The good news is we have six opportunities left to play.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) leaves the field during the second quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Colorado DB/WR Travis Hunter exits with apparent shoulder injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado’s star two-way player Travis Hunter left Saturday night’s home game against Kansas State in the second quarter with an apparent shoulder injury and was questionable to return, according to ESPN.

Hunter, who plays cornerback and wide receiver for the Buffaloes, went to the locker room with 5:18 left in the second quarter and did not return in the first half. He was on the field for 44 of 45 snaps.

The junior, who is in his second season in Colorado, had three receptions for 26 yards on Saturday. He began the night with 46 catches for 561 yards.

Hunter had a solo tackle on Saturday, adding to his 15 solo or assisted tackles beginning the night. He also has two interceptions, three passes defensed and one forced fumble this season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter (12) following the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Deion Sanders: ‘Tremendous chance’ Travis Hunter returns vs. Stanford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter is closer than ever to returning to game action after suffering a lacerated liver Sept. 16.

Colorado (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) hosts Stanford on Friday night before a bye week.

“There’s a tremendous chance he could play,” Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders told reporters Tuesday. “It goes by how he looks, how he performs in practice, how his wind is. … He has to be in shape. I don’t want him to be a liability. I want him always to be a tremendous asset.”

Sanders previously said it was his “dream and desire” that Hunter stayed out until after the bye week, but Hunter has been persistent.

“He came to me (Monday) morning saying, ‘What more can I do to help us get to the point that we need to get to?’” Sanders said. “So I love the team aspect of Travis 100 percent. I hope he can play.”

Sanders added that Hunter will be wearing “protection” around the liver area.

Hunter suffered the injury during the Buffaloes’ 43-35 double-overtime win over Colorado State on Sept. 16. The wide receiver/defensive back took a tough late hit at the sideline from Rams safety Henry Blackburn and hasn’t played since.

A former five-star high school recruit, Hunter plays wide receiver and cornerback for Sanders at Colorado after following the coach there from Jackson State. In the first three games of 2023, Hunter had 16 catches for 233 yards on offense and one interception, two pass breakups and nine tackles on defense.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter (12) warms up prior to the game against the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado’s Travis Hunter expected out at least 2 more weeks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dynamic two-way player Travis Hunter probably won’t play for Colorado until later this month as he continues to recover from a lacerated liver.

Hunter suffered the injury during the Buffaloes’ 43-35 double-overtime win over Colorado State on Sept. 16. The wide receiver/defensive back took a tough late hit at the sideline from Rams safety Henry Blackburn and hasn’t played since.

Coach Deion Sanders said Hunter wouldn’t play this Saturday at Arizona State. The Buffaloes (3-2, 0-2 Pacific 12) will host Stanford on Oct. 13, then have a week off before meeting UCLA on Oct. 28.

“Travis is … let’s say two or three (weeks away),” Sanders said Tuesday. “That would be my dream and desire, for him to stay out until after the bye week.”

Hunter is in his first season at Colorado, transferring from Jacksonville State when Sanders took over as head coach in Boulder. Sanders said Hunter is itching to play but is doing some coaching in practice until then.

“Travis is doing well,” Sanders said. “He was out in practice today coaching his butt off. He’s one of the best coaches we have. And he’s on — shoot, Cormani (McClain), he’s on his butt. He’s on his butt, day in and day out. I know Travis — he’s going to want to (play).”

In the first three games of the season, Hunter caught 16 passes for 213 yards. He also has nine tackles, an interception and two passes defensed.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter (12) walks on the field against the Colorado State Rams during the first half at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Colorado State’s Henry Blackburn make peace

Posted on | by Field Level Media

All appears to be well between Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter and Colorado State safety Henry Blackburn.

A rough, late hit from Blackburn in the Sept. 16 game between the teams left Hunter with a lacerated liver, and he missed last Saturday’s loss at Oregon. Blackburn and his family received death threats following the play, in which Blackburn was flagged for a personal foul but not ejected.

In a show of unity, the two went bowling together, and both players agreed to donate money to a charity of the winner’s choice, ESPN reported Thursday. Blackburn posted part of the meeting between the two on his Instagram story and wrote, “God has a bigger plan.”

Hunter will miss Colorado’s home game on Saturday against Southern California in Boulder.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders blasted those who made the threats against Blackburn, who grew up in Boulder.

A former five-star high school recruit, Hunter plays wide receiver and cornerback for Sanders at Colorado after following the coach there from Jackson State. In the first three games of 2023, Hunter had 16 catches for 233 yards on offense and one interception, two pass breakups and nine tackles on defense.

After the Buffaloes’ lopsided loss to the Ducks, unbeaten No. 8 USC is a 21.5-point favorite against Colorado at BetMGM.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter (12) following the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Deion Sanders says no Travis Hunter for Colorado vs. No. 8 USC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter will not play this Saturday’s home game against No. 8 Southern California as he recovers from a lacerated liver.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders — in a video posted online Monday on his son’s YouTube channel — told his players that Hunter texted him saying he needed to play this week after missing Colorado’s 42-6 loss to Oregon.

“We need to get everything we can so I can get back on the field. I’m not taking no for an answer,” Hunter purportedly told Sanders.

Sanders then told his team how he responded:

“No, you ain’t ready and I care about you more than I care about this game. You’re going to change the game of football one day when you get healthy and ready. Your future is brighter than mine ever will be and ever was. Relax and get healthy. I love you, son.”

Hunter was injured Sept. 16 when Colorado State’s Henry Blackburn laid an illegal hit on him along the sideline.

A former five-star high school recruit, Hunter plays wide receiver and cornerback for Sanders at Colorado after following the coach there from Jackson State. In the first three games of 2023, Hunter had 16 catches for 233 yards on offense and one interception, two pass breakups and nine tackles on defense.

After the Buffaloes’ lopsided loss at Oregon, unbeaten USC is a 21.5-point favorite against Colorado at BetMGM and FanDuel Sportsbook.

–Field Level Media