Travis Hunter turned each play into prime time — on either side of the ball — and in the end took dwelling the Heisman Trophy.
Now he is acquired a leg up on his celeb coach at Colorado.
The 2-way star gained faculty soccer’s most prestigious award Saturday evening, punctuating a tireless efficiency all season by a dynamic participant with a singular mixture of abilities.
“By no means thought I might be on this place,” a tearful Hunter mentioned as he thanked everybody from his fiancée to members of the family and former and present coaches. “It is loopy. Perception takes you a good distance.”
Whereas posing for numerous photographs with the long-lasting statue over the previous two days, Hunter made some extent to not put his palms on the Heisman. He mentioned he did not need to contact it except it was his.
As soon as it lastly was, he grabbed the trophy arduous with two palms and let unfastened a contented scream: “Let’s go!”
Subsequent cease, an area spot he reserved to have fun with teammates.
“I do not prefer to be out late, however I’ll be out late tonight,” Hunter mentioned, smiling.
An enormous-play extensive receiver and lockdown cornerback, Hunter dominated on offense and protection for coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes, becoming a member of late working again Rashaan Salaam in 1994 as the one Heisman winners at school historical past.
Hunter obtained 552 first-place votes and a pair of,231 factors in a cushty victory. Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty was the runner-up with 309 first-place votes and a pair of,017 factors, the closest margin since 2009.
Hunter garnered 80.14% of doable factors, the Eleventh-highest in Heisman Trophy historical past, and joined Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson (1997) as the one full-time defensive gamers to assert the prize. Woodson additionally made some large performs at wideout, however did not spend practically as a lot time on offense as Hunter.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel got here in third and Miami quarterback Cam Ward completed fourth in balloting for the ninetieth Heisman Trophy, offered yearly since 1935 to the nation’s most excellent participant. This yr’s ceremony was held at Jazz at Lincoln Heart in Manhattan, the place Sanders was in attendance.
It marked solely the fifth time this century a quarterback did not win. The final time no signal-caller positioned within the high two was 2015, when working backs Derrick Henry of Alabama and Christian McCaffrey ran 1-2 in voting.
Hunter additionally gained The Related Press participant of the yr amongst a string of different particular person awards this week. He helped spark a powerful turnaround at Colorado, from 4-8 in 2023 when he missed 3 1/2 video games due to accidents to 9-3 this yr in Sanders’ second season. The Twentieth-ranked Buffaloes acquired their first bowl bid in 4 years and can face No. 17 BYU (10-2) within the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.
Hunter has pledged to play, slightly than skip the sport to organize for the NFL draft and stop any doable harm as many high prospects do. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior from Suwanee, Georgia, plans to cross up his senior season in Boulder and is anticipated to be a top-five decide by the professionals — maybe even No. 1 general.
“He desires to be nice at the whole lot,” Sanders mentioned. “He desires to have a dedication to excellence in the whole lot he does — together with fishing.”
Showcasing his blazing pace and explosive playmaking, Hunter hardly ever got here off the sphere this yr — making him an every-down throwback to generations passed by and the primary full-time, true two-way star in many years.
On offense, he had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, plus a speeding rating. On protection, he made 4 interceptions, 32 tackles, broke up 11 passes and compelled a important fumble that secured an extra time victory towards Baylor.
With the Buffaloes successful video games and difficult for a Massive 12 title, he soared from a long-shot underdog in Heisman futures final summer time to a heavy betting favourite this week.
All of the whereas, putting the Heisman pose with teammates to have fun large performs because it turned increasingly more clear Hunter was the person to beat.
“I undoubtedly can kick, (too). I’ve simply acquired to apply,” he mentioned. “I am unable to cease transferring after I’m not on the sphere.”
Hunter performed practically 700 snaps every on offense and protection — the one Energy 4 convention participant with 30-plus snaps on either side of the ball, in response to Colorado analysis.
It will appear a very exhausting workload for any participant as of late, each mentally and bodily, however not Hunter.
“I believe I laid the bottom for extra individuals to return in and go two methods,” he mentioned Friday. “It begins together with your mindset. For those who imagine you are able to do it, then you’ll do it. And in addition, I do a number of remedy. I sustain with my physique. I get a number of restoration.”
Rated the nation’s high recruit within the 2022 class, Hunter shocked many observers when he dedicated to play for Sanders at Jackson State, an HBCU that competes within the lower-level FCS, with the promise of taking part in each offense and protection.
“Lots of people advised me I could not do it,” mentioned Hunter, sporting white footwear and a lightweight blue go well with — his favourite shade. “I at all times say I’ll show them mistaken and I’ll show myself proper.”
After one season, Hunter adopted Sanders to Colorado and was a consensus All-America choice as an all-purpose participant final yr regardless of sitting out three video games with a lacerated liver brought on by a late hit.
Following his restoration, a wholesome Hunter completed sturdy in 2023 after which actually took off this season, catching passes from Shedeur Sanders, the coach’s son, and turning into Colorado’s first Heisman Trophy finalist in 30 years.
The 21-year-old Hunter, who plans to get married in Might, is the sixth switch to take the award over the previous eight years and the primary winner to start his profession within the FCS.
“Look the place I am at. It paid off,” Hunter mentioned.
“I wished to be totally different,” he added later. “Me being totally different makes me really feel extra comfy than doing the norm.”
Deion Sanders, nicknamed Prime Time throughout his taking part in days — seemingly by himself — was a two-time All-America defensive again at Florida State and completed eighth in 1988 Heisman voting.
An electrifying kick returner, who additionally performed main league baseball by the way in which, Neon Deion went on to a Corridor of Fame profession as an NFL cornerback however principally simply dabbled on offense in addition to a 36-catch season with the 1996 Dallas Cowboys.
Nothing fairly like Hunter, who now has Heisman bragging rights on Coach Prime eternally.
