Travis Hunter made the bold step of striking the Heisman pose during Colorado’s 48-21 rout of Central Florida on Saturday in Orlando.
Heisman winners usually play quarterback, typically for a College Football Playoff contenders, but Hunter’s status as a two-way star may be too much for voters to overlook. On Saturday, for instance, he had nine catches for 89 yards and a touchdown on offense, while recording an interception and a pair of tackles on defense.
Oh, and he played over 100 snaps across offense and defense.
Hunter splits his time between wide receiver and cornerback, and while Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes have already matched last season’s victory total, it might be a stretch to call them a serious threat to win the Big 12 – or maybe not.
The ceiling for Hunter and CU might need to be re-assesed after they went to new conference rivalry UCF and turned the Bounce House into the Buffs’ House on Saturday.
Travis Hunter struck the Heisman pose during Colorado’s 48-21 rout of Central Florida
Receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter warms up before Saturday’s game in Orlando
‘This is one of the first times that offensively, defensively as well as special teams, we came together all at the same time,’ Sanders said.
Hunter has routinely logged more than 100 snaps in games as a lockdown cornerback on an improved Colorado defense and quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ favorite target on offense.
Many a Heisman hopeful in September has become a footnote to the season by November, but a healthy Hunter could change the usual dynamics of the race.
Since 2000, 20 Heisman winners have been quarterbacks and most of them have played for teams that have entered the postseason with a chance to win a national title.
The big question about LSU’s Jayden Daniels Heisman campaign last year was whether he could overcome a 9-3 record. The last Heisman winner to be on a team to lose that many regular-season games was Lamar Jackson for Louisville in 2016.
Hunter extends for a pass from Shedeur Sanders during Saturday’s warmups in Orlando
Hunter (12) catches a pass as Central Florida defensive back Brandon Adams (0) defends
Hunter will be an unusual Heisman contender, but he is a unique talent. Charles Woodson won the Heisman in 1997 as brilliant cornerback, a part-time receiver and occasional special teams weapon.
Woodson wasn’t playing this much nor at this level on both sides of the ball. Hunter will have NFL teams pondering whether to use him on offense or defense when he becomes a first-round draft pick in April.
Hunter is currently on pace for more than 100 catches and 1,000 yards receiving. Hunter’s Heisman hopes are as much about how well Colorado (4-1) holds up as he does. It’s early, but the Buffs go into their off week tied for first place in the Big 12.
No. 23 Kansas State comes to Boulder on Oct. 12 for a game that will no doubt get a prime television window. Coach Prime’s team is still a TV ratings machine.
That should help Hunter, too. His brilliance should continue to get a big stage as long as Colorado doesn’t nosedive the way it did last season.
It’s funny how things go.
Last season, CU stormed out to a 3-0 start and spent several weeks as a ranked team. It was all a mirage. The Buffs finished 4-8 and Hunter missed a chunk of the season with injuries.
The buzz about the Buffs is building more organically this season, which could give both Colorado and Hunter staying power.
