Travis Hunter took the bold step of striking the Heisman pose during Colorado’s 48-21 rout of Central Florida on Saturday in Orlando.
Heisman winners typically play quarterback, typically for College Football Playoff contenders, but Hunter’s status as a two-way star may be too much for voters to overlook. On Saturday, for example, he had nine receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown on offense, while recording an interception and a pair of tackles on defense.
Oh, and he played more than 100 plays on offense and defense.
Hunter splits his time between wide receiver and cornerback, and although Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes have already matched last season’s win total, it might be a stretch to call them a serious threat to win the Big 12, or maybe not.
The ceiling may need to be reevaluated for Hunter and CU after they flocked to the new UCF rivalry conference and turned the Bounce House into the House of the Buffs on Saturday.
Travis Hunter did 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 and special teams, we all came together at the same time,” Sanders said.
Hunter has routinely logged over 100 snaps in games as a blocking cornerback on an improved Colorado defense and quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ favorite target on offense.
Many Heisman contenders in September have become a footnote to the season in November, but a healthy Hunter could change the usual dynamic of the race.
Since 2000, 20 Heisman winners have been quarterbacks and most of them have played for teams that made 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 that lost that many regular season games was Lamar Jackson for Louisville in 2016.
Hunter stretches to receive a pass from Shedeur Sanders during warmups Saturday in Orlando
Hunter (12) catches a pass as Central Florida defensive back Brandon Adams (0) defends
Hunter will be an unusual contender for the Heisman, but he has a unique talent. Charles Woodson won the Heisman in 1997 as a brilliant cornerback, part-time receiver and occasional special teams weapon.
Woodson didn’t play this much or 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 pick in April.
Hunter is currently on pace to have over 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards. Hunter’s Heisman hopes depend as much on how well Colorado (4-1) performs as he does. It’s early, but the Buffs enter their bye week tied for first place in the Big 12.
No. 23 Kansas State comes to Boulder on October 12 for a game that will undoubtedly have a prime television window. The Coach Prime team continues to be a television ratings machine.
That should help Hunter too. His brilliance should continue to get a big stage as long as Colorado doesn’t take a nosedive like it did last season.
It’s funny how things are going.
Last season, CU got off 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 much of the season with injuries.
Buffs rumors are building more organically this season, which could give both Colorado and Hunter staying power.