He is the phenom of college football. Travis Hunter of the Colorado Buffaloes dismantles opposing universities on offense and defense. A small portrait of the hottest contender for the Heisman Trophy.
A physical illusion, then the lightning-fast advance through the middle including a dive into the end zone for a rushing touchdown for Travis Hunter from the Colorado Buffaloes. What follows is a little dance with the college team’s offensive department and an imitation of the coveted Heisman Trophy.
Hunter is a hot contender for the prestigious award as the best college football player in the USA. If you look at his receiver stats, it’s a questionable undertaking. 69 receptions for 856 yards in ten games. Sure, this is a top season. But in such a diverse and professionalized college football world, isn’t there a single athlete who can put up more impressive numbers?
Absolutely, one of the biggest competitors for the Heisman Trophy plays with Hunter for the Buffaloes: quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is already having an outstanding year with 2,882 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. Miami playmaker Cam Ward puts up even more spectacular stats, as does Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
And yet, many experts still consider Travis Hunter to be the number 1 pick for the 2025 draft and the Heisman favorite. The reason lies in its incredible variability.
Offense and defense monsters
Because Hunter, like baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is an absolute machine on both sides of the ball, or ice. When he’s not running routes to escape the defense as a pass receiver, he’s guarding his counterparts on the opposite side as a cornerback.
Similar to the “Swiss Army Knife” Taysom Hill with the New Orleans Saints, who plays quarterback and tight end, the college superstar also serves both sides of the coin. Just better than Taysom Hill.
Because Hunter can basically do everything and at a shockingly high level. The 69 receptions this season resulted in nine touchdowns, on the defensive side there were 21 combined tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions plucked from the air.
Chameleon Hunter once again demonstrated his versatility in the Buffaloes’ 49:24 win against the Utah Utes on Saturday. Five receptions, 60 all-purpose yards and the rushing touchdown illustrated in the introduction – on top of three tackles and an interception in the passive part of the game.
In addition, Hunter is on the field for just over 100 snaps week after week, significantly more often than his position competitors at wide receiver and cornerback.
Which NFL team will win the jackpot?
A jump into the NFL will inevitably happen after this season. According to the current draft order, the Jacksonville Jaguars would probably get the contract. Which talent will ultimately end up where cannot of course be answered at this point in time.
“Nobody has ever done what I’ve done. So the answer is pretty simple in my opinion. I dominate the game on offense and defense,” Hunter said recently in an interview with “ESPN”. So he already has the self-confidence of an NFL superstar.
Perhaps the football synonym for changeability will soon become one.
