BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type participant — an elite receiver one second, a lockdown cornerback the following — who hardly ever leaves the sphere and has a knack for making massive performs throughout it.
The Colorado Buffaloes’ two-way standout ( see: unicorn ) even celebrates at an elite degree, unveiling imaginative dance strikes following touchdowns and interceptions, a few of which embrace the Heisman Trophy pose. It’s one of the various awards he’s in line to win.
Hunter is the The Associated Press school soccer participant of the 12 months, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty completed second with 16 votes and Arizona State working again Cameron Skattebo obtained one vote.
“Couldn’t do what I do with out my group,” Hunter mentioned in an e mail on a visit to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. “So I view being up for these awards as group awards.”
A participant together with his explicit set of expertise doesn’t come round that always. He’s a flashback to the times of Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. Or even his coach, Deion Sanders, a two-way star within the NFL.
The prospect of serious enjoying time on either side of the ball is what led Hunter to affix Sanders at Jackson State and why he adopted Sanders to Boulder.
“Coach Prime was the one coach who would contemplate permitting me to do what I’m doing,” mentioned Hunter, who’s anticipated to be a top-five choose subsequent spring within the NFL draft, probably even the No. 1 total choice. “He did it and is aware of what it takes — how a lot you must be prepared on either side of the ball.”
Want to gasoline Hunter? Simply inform him he can’t.
“I’m motivated when folks inform me I can’t do one thing,” Hunter mentioned. “That I can’t dominate on either side of the ball. I need to be an instance for others that something is feasible. Keep pursuing your goals.”
Hunter helped the Twentieth-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 document this season and a berth within the Alamo Bowl in opposition to No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He performed 688 defensive snaps and 672 extra on offense — the lone Power Four convention participant with 30-plus snaps on either side of the ball, based on Colorado analysis.
Hunter has already received a second straight Paul Hornung award as the sport’s most versatile participant. He’s up for the Walter Camp (participant of the 12 months), Maxwell (most excellent participant), the Biletnikoff (finest receiver) and Bednarik (prime defensive participant) awards.
And, after all, the Heisman, the place he’s the odds-on favourite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can be a part of the late Rashaan Salaam as the one Colorado gamers to seize the Heisman. Salaam received it in 1994 after speeding for two,055 yards.
Hunter wasn’t a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which fits to the nation’s prime defensive again. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to present his trophy to Hunter.
Hunter’s highschool coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a particular participant the summer time of Hunter’s freshman 12 months. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning take a look at for his gamers — run six 200-yard dashes with a minute relaxation in between. Defensive backs needed to full every in underneath 32 seconds.
Hunter by no means even received winded. He performed security/cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season.
“I keep in mind simply speaking to schools the spring of his ninth-grade 12 months and telling coaches that this child’s going to be the No. 1 participant within the nation,” recounted Gregory, who’s now the coach at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Georgia. “They’d take a look at him and snort at me, ‘What are you speaking about? This scrawny child? He’s not sufficiently big.’ I used to be like, ‘Just watch. Just watch.’”
Hunter completed the common season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On protection, he had 4 interceptions, broke up 11 passes and compelled one essential fumble, which secured an OT win over Baylor.
Overall, Hunter had 92 receptions and allowed 22. He hauled in 14 receiving TDs and allowed only one. He was accountable for 53 first downs and gave up simply six. He was focused 119 occasions by Shedeur Sanders & Co. however solely 39 occasions by opposing QBs.
Hunter’s seemingly remaining sport in Boulder, a rout of Oklahoma State, was a three-touchdown, one-interception efficiency.
“I’m used to seeing him do all this spectacular stuff,” Shedeur Sanders mentioned. “I’m used to all these items — you all are simply now seeing it on nationwide stage.”
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