The 2024 Heisman finalists were announced Monday night, and Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter is one of four players invited to Saturday’s award presentation in New York.
Why should Colorado’s superstar win the Heisman Trophy, and what are his realistic chances of receiving the most coveted individual award in college football?
Why Should Travis Hunter Win the Heisman Trophy?
Colorado superstar Hunter is the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. But should that be the case? Here’s the case for Hunter to win the award.
We’re prone to hyperbole in college football media, but it’s not an exaggeration to say we’ve never seen a player like Hunter before.
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There have been talented two-way players in this sport before. However, there has never been someone like Hunter who doesn’t simply take the odd snap at a secondary position; he plays both full-time, at an incredibly high, bordering on elite level.
Take Charles Woodson, for instance. Woodson won the Heisman Trophy in 1997 primarily due to his contributions in every phase of the game. He won as a “two-way” player but finished fifth on his team in receiving yardage, with 231 yards on 11 catches.
Hunter, by contrast, finished the regular season fifth nationally in receiving yardage, with 1,152 yards. The Colorado standout also had 14 touchdowns and 92 catches.
Defensively, Hunter was just as good. Playing as a cornerback for the Buffaloes, he had four interceptions and a game-winning forced fumble. He tallied seven pass breakups, and opposing quarterbacks averaged just 5.4 yards per attempt when targeting players in his coverage.
Hunter was one of the best corners in the country, despite many NFL scouts believing that’s his weaker position. He was fantastic in coverage defensively, locking down his side of the field.
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Unlike other two-way players, Hunter dominated at both positions. He rarely left the field, playing 1,443 snaps, despite missing part of a game with an injury and playing limited snaps in the following two games.
It’s not just that Hunter played both ways; he played both positions at the highest level. He was a top-five receiver and a top-five corner, not a top-five receiver who took snaps at corner or a top-five corner who took snaps at receiver.
NFL scouts are split over which position he should play, and it’s possible that teams in the top five of the draft are eying him for different positions.
I believe he could play both positions at the next level. Why limit what makes Hunter unique? He’s dominating high-level competition in college as a receiver and corner; let him do that in the NFL.
Hunter is currently a -2500 favorite to win the award on Saturday. He’s a unicorn. We’ve never seen anything like what he has done this year, and we may never see it again.
That’s why Hunter should win the Heisman Trophy. The award is for the best player in the game. The other Heisman finalists are excellent players at one position. Hunter is dominant at two.
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