Former Colorado do-it-all star and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter won’t work out on the NFL Mix, officers instructed the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Whereas it might be disappointing for followers and pundits that needed to see Hunter undergo drills as each a large receiver and defensive again, he does not want a fast exercise to point out that he is one of many prime prospects within the draft.
The tape already exhibits that Hunter is a very particular prospect. He is arguably the best two-way participant to ever dominate the game of faculty soccer. Along with his Heisman win, he took dwelling the Bednarik Award as the highest defensive participant in school soccer and the Biletnikoff Award as the highest receiver in school soccer. He’s the primary athlete to ever win each awards in the identical season.
Hunter averaged an astounding 112.3 snaps per sport in 2024 and maintained a mean of over 90 snaps per sport all through a profession that spanned the FCS degree at Jackson State and the Energy 4 at Colorado. He had 24 touchdowns receiving, 24 go deflections and 9 interceptions in a three-year span.
Naturally, he generated loads of highlights on either side of the ball. In gentle of the truth that Hunter won’t take part in exercises on the NFL Mix, here is a glance again on the performs that set him other than different prospects.
Heroics within the Celebration Bowl
Hunter started his profession at Jackson State, the place he signed in 2022 to play beneath coach Deion Sanders. Within the course of, grew to become the primary five-star prospect to enroll at an FCS program out of highschool. It did not take him lengthy to make an influence. He was a key determine on a Jackson State group that went 11-0 in the course of the common season and beat Southern within the SWAC Championship Recreation.
That earned the Tigers a visit to the Celebration Bowl in opposition to North Carolina Central, the place Hunter hauled in a spectacular last-second landing catch to ship the sport to extra time.
Jackson State misplaced in extra time, however Sanders parlayed that profitable 2022 season at Jackson State into a possibility at Colorado. Hunter was fast to observe alongside through the switch portal.
Diving interception in opposition to TCU
It did not take lengthy for Colorado to earn a marquee win in opposition to Sanders. The Buffaloes opened their 2023 season in opposition to reigning nationwide runner-up TCU, which ranked No. 17 within the preseason AP High 25.
The 2 groups traded blows till late within the third quarter when it appeared as if the Horned Frogs would cap an extended drive with a go-ahead landing. As a substitute, on third-and-1 from Colorado’s 4-yard line, Hunter dove in entrance of a brief out route and snagged the ball out of the air whereas falling to the bottom.
Hunter’s interception supplied Colorado the momentum it wanted to surge to a 45-42 victory. He additionally completed the competition with 11 catches for 119 yards.
Regardless of a 4-8 end to the 2023 season, Colorado opened the 2024 marketing campaign with excessive hopes. The Buffaloes bought every thing they might deal with from FCS North Dakota State in Week 1, although.
Colorado started the fourth quarter with a slight 24-20 benefit and drove the ball all the best way to NDSU’s 5-yard line however had been pressured right into a third-and-goal scenario. There, with the play clock expiring, quarterback Shedeur Sanders took a late snap and delivered a fast ball to Hunter, who made an absurd catch with a defensive again draped throughout him to safe an important, decisive landing.
Recreation-winning pressured fumble vs. Baylor
Colorado’s Week 4 sport in opposition to Baylor in 2024 went to extra time. Colorado scored a landing on its first possession within the further interval, and it seemed like Baylor can be fast to match. The Bears had first-and-goal from Colorado’s 2-yard line after operating simply 4 performs.
Baylor operating again Dominic Richardson took a handoff and met Hunter on the objective line. Hunter bought a shoulder on the ball and compelled a fumble that Colorado recovered, securing an important win for the Buffaloes of their first Huge 12 sport since 2010.
Huge catch in opposition to Utah
Hunter had a few jaw-dropping offensive performs in a late-season win in opposition to Utah. Late within the second quarter, he jumped above two Utah defenders and secured a troublesome catch by way of contact to transform on fourth-and-8 and tee up a landing that prolonged Colorado’s result in 21-6.
Hunter dazzles with ball-carrying abilities
With the Utah sport out of attain in Colorado’s favor late within the fourth quarter, the Buffaloes ran a trick play that was designed to have Hunter throw a go to Sanders. Nonetheless, Utah made it some extent to cowl Sanders.
Irrespective of for Hunter, who danced round within the backfield, reversed course on 4 Utah defenders, ran proper previous the road of scrimmage and leapt into the tip zone by way of a would-be tackler for a five-yard dashing landing — the primary of his profession.
