BOULDER, CO – In front of a prime-time national audience, Colorado Buffaloes two-way athlete, Travis Hunter entered the Heisman Trophy chat with arguably the catch of the year, putting all of college football on notice.
Hunter, an original commit to Florida State, before choosing HBCU power Jackson State, and following coach Deion Sanders to snowy Boulder, electrified college football last year to the tune of 57 catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns at WR, and 31 total tackles along with three interceptions in his first season with the Buffaloes.
If last season was just an appetizer, than his seven-catch, 132 yard, three touchdown performance in a 31-26 win, was the first entree for a potential Heisman grand supper in New York.
With Colorado leading by four, 24-20, and 7;57 left in the game, Hunter made arguably one of the top touchdown grabs of all-time with North Dakota Bison DB Jailen Duffie draped all over him on a fade pattern to the pylon, Hunter contorted his body, falling out of bounds, to snatch the ball with both hands in-bounds to put the game out of reach for Colorado.
And with that viral catch, Hunter officially entered the Heisman chat. OBJ who?
Thanks to logging 100-plus snaps at wideout and defensive back (132) vs. the Bison, Hunter has a legitimate shot to become the first two-way player to win the Heisman since Michigan’s Charles Woodson back in 1997.
Thanks to the newly-expanded 12-team playoff format, which will also have bigger primetime matchups vs marquee teams, Hunter will have opportunities to showcase his credentials at UCF, vs. No.17 Kansas State, at No.20 Arizona, vs No.11 Utah, at No.19 Kansas and at home vs. No.16 Oklahoma State.
Love him, hate him, Prime knows how to recruit and build a brand, and thanks to players like Hunter, Colorado is primed for more eyes on it, as well as it’s first Heisman winner since the Rashaan Salaam won it 30 years ago in 1994.
Thanks to highlight catches like his vs. the Bison, don’t be shocked is Hunter doesn’t leave the Heisman chat anytime soon.