Colorado’s Travis Hunter was named the winner of the Heisman Trophy, school soccer’s most prestigious particular person award, turning into the primary honoree in additional than 20 years to play vital roles on each offense and protection.
Hunter was one in every of 4 Heisman finalists Saturday, and the heavy betting favourite to win. His fellow finalists had been Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty. The award is decided by 928 voters together with media members, dwelling previous Heisman winners and one fan vote.
Hunter’s two-way stardom is uncommon; not since Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997 has a Heisman winner performed on each side of the ball. For Hunter, it was no gimmick. In addition to the Heisman, Hunter this season was additionally named as a finalist for the awards given to varsity soccer’s high receiver and high defensive participant.
As a cornerback, Hunter’s 11 cross breakups ranked eighth within the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision. He additionally added 4 interceptions, 15 passes defended and scored on a game-winning compelled fumble restoration.
As a large receiver, Hunter caught 92 passes to guide the Big 12 Conference and rank fifth within the nation. Hunter’s 1,152 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns had been sixth and second within the NCAA, respectively. No receiver was a extra constant big-play risk, with an FBS-leading 21 catches of 20 yards or extra.
Hunter, who has stated he’ll enter the NFL draft following Colorado’s season, started his school profession by upending expectations.
As the nation’s high highschool recruit in 2022, he spurned packages from the game’s strongest conferences to enroll at Jackson State, a traditionally Black college, to play for then-coach Deion Sanders. When Colorado employed Sanders in December 2022, Hunter adopted his coach — who had bent expectations throughout his personal profession, taking part in each within the NFL and MLB — to Boulder.
Hunter is Colorado’s second Heisman winner, becoming a member of working again Rashaan Salaam in 1994.
