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University of Colorado’s Travis Hunter was topped the winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy on Saturday following a powerful season with the Buffaloes.
Hunter excelled as a large receiver and cornerback for the Buffs. His offensive contributions included main the Big 12 with 92 receptions and 14 touchdowns and ranked third with 1,152 receiving yards.
He was additionally dynamic on protection – a rarity in in the present day’s sport – showcasing his versatility with 4 interceptions, 31 complete tackles, 15 passes defended, and a pivotal game-winning pressured fumble in an extra time win in opposition to Baylor.
He performed 1,356 snaps on offense and protection in 12 video games this season – 379 greater than some other participant within the FBS, based on ESPN.
Hunter beat out the opposite finalists for the ninetieth Heisman award, together with Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Miami’s Cam Ward, to assert school soccer’s most prestigious trophy. He turns into the second participant in Colorado’s historical past to win the coveted award and the primary since Rashaan Salaam in 1994.
An emotional Hunter hugged his Colorado head coach and former NFL cornerback Deion Sanders, amongst others, as he made his approach as much as the stage of the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York.
Hunter thanked a number of members of the family and coaches in his acceptance speech however was overcome with emotion when he thanked his father.
“He’s not right here to have the ability to make it, however I do know you’re watching it on TV. Dad, I like you. All the stuff you went by man, now have a look at your oldest son, I did this for you,” Hunter stated.
“All the occasions that you simply didn’t get to see me, and the occasions that you simply got here to see my video games, from not seeing in all probability two video games in highschool to seeing me on TV each weekend and coming to see me, meaning a lot to me.
“I do know you wished to be right here, and you may’t, however belief me, I acquired you. I’m bringing the trophy house, I like you,” he stated.
Hunter’s chase for the Heisman Trophy was tightly contested all through the season as he competed with Jeanty for the game’s high prize. The Boise State operating again commonly made headlines for his distinctive performances as he amassed 2,497 yards on the bottom, which ranked because the fourth-highest single-season complete within the FBS. Jeanty’s 192.1 yards per sport dwarfed the next-highest competitor by 58 yards.
Hunter acquired 552 first-place votes and a couple of,231 complete factors, whereas Jeanty completed as a runner-up with 309 first-place votes and a couple of,017 factors. The profitable margin was the closest since 2009 when Mark Ingram beat Toby Gerhart for the award.
In his possible ultimate house sport in Boulder, the 21-year-old junior placed on a present that cemented his Heisman candidacy, recording three touchdowns and an interception in a standout efficiency in opposition to Oklahoma State.
“I feel Travis clinched the Heisman along with his efficiency,” Sanders, often known as “Coach Prime,” stated after the November 29 sport.
“You’ve by no means seen it earlier than, He’s the very best participant in school soccer. You might discover methods to hate, to criticize, to sentence him and also you received’t come out of that trying skilled as a result of now you’re simply looking for one thing. Travis Hunter proved in the present day, and he’s proved each week, that he’s the very best participant in school soccer,” Sanders stated final month.
After being the primary participant to be named a finalist for each the Biletnikoff Award, given to the highest collegiate receiver no matter place, and the Bednarik Award, given to the highest defensive participant within the nation, Hunter received each on Thursday and was named the Walter Camp Player of the Year.
Coming out of Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, Hunter made headlines after the top-rated prospect spurned his verbal dedication to play at Florida State and elected to signal with HBCU Jackson State to play underneath Sanders and his son Shedeur. In his freshman season, Hunter completed with 4 receiving touchdowns, 20 complete tackles and two interceptions in eight video games.
Hunter adopted Sanders to Colorado, the place the dynamic playmaker solidified himself as one of many high school soccer gamers within the nation. Following his first season with the Buffs, Hunter was one among three gamers featured on the quilt of EA Sports’ “College Football 25.”
The two-way star has stated he’ll play within the No. 23 Buffaloes’ ultimate sport of the season in opposition to the No. 17 BYU Cougars within the Alamo Bowl on Saturday, December 28.
Hunter is projected to be a top-five choose within the 2025 NFL draft.
This story has been up to date with extra info.
Correction: An earlier model of this story misstated the variety of Heisman Trophy recipients. Travis Hunter is the ninetieth winner of the award.
