BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type participant — an elite receiver one second, a lockdown cornerback the following — who not often leaves the sphere and has a knack for making large 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. The Heisman is among the many awards he is in line to win.
Hunter is the Associated Press faculty soccer participant of the yr, 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 Cam Skattebo acquired 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 abilities would not 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 great taking part in 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 decide subsequent spring within the NFL draft, probably even the No. 1 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 cannot.
“I’m motivated when folks inform me I can not do one thing,” Hunter mentioned. “That I can not dominate on either side of the ball. I wish 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 towards No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He performed 688 defensive snaps and 672 extra on offense — the lone Power 4 convention participant with 30-plus snaps on either side of the ball, in accordance with Colorado analysis.
Hunter has already gained a second straight Paul Hornung Award as the sport’s most versatile participant. He’s up for the Walter Camp (participant of the yr), Maxwell (most excellent participant), Biletnikoff (greatest receiver) and Bednarik (high defensive participant) awards.
And, after all, the Heisman, the place he is a finalist and the odds-on favourite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can be a part of Rashaan Salaam as the one Colorado gamers to seize the Heisman. Salaam gained it in 1994 after dashing for two,055 yards.
Hunter wasn’t a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which matches to the nation’s high defensive again. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to provide his trophy to Hunter.
Hunter’s highschool coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a particular participant the summer season of Hunter’s freshman yr. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning check 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 obtained winded. He performed security/cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season.
“I bear in mind simply speaking to high schools the spring of his ninth grade yr 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 snicker at me, ‘What are you speaking about? This scrawny child? He’s not large enough.’ 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 instances by Shedeur Sanders & Co. however solely 39 instances by opposing QBs.
Hunter’s doubtless closing recreation 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 things; you all are simply now seeing it on nationwide stage.”
