Travis Hunter grabbed the attention of the sports world last year when he won the 2023 Paul Hornung Award in nine games. Colorado's two-way star is one of the most exciting players in college football and is slowly starting to gain recognition nationally.
“Saucy-T” was recently named the top player for the 2024 season, according to CBS Sports analyst Blake Brockermeyer. The former NFL offensive lineman currently thinks Hunter is the best.
“(Hunter) is a generational player and will be even more effective for Colorado's defense if he takes fewer snaps on offense at wide receiver,” Brockermeyer said. “Hunter missed a few games after taking a cheap shot against Colorado State, but still played 1,044 snaps.
“He played over 100 snaps in seven games, and he did that as a two-way player. That's more than a typical defender's number of appearances over two seasons.”
Hunter became the newest consensus All-American and carved his name into CU history. He had 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, the phenom he compiled 31 tackles with 3 INTs and 5 PDUs. Many wonder if Hunter could become the first player in the NFL to play both ways consistently. It's part of his DNA in his football since childhood and he doesn't know how to look at the game any other way.
Editorial: Travis Hunter is disrespected by NFL teams who don't believe he has two-way talent
“It’s a smooth corner and Hunter is great in the press,” Brockermeyer said. “In a Cover 2 scheme, he has the ability to undercut routes and make plays on the ball. Hunter has great hands and will sacrifice his body to make plays. He has smooth hips that can track the main receiver and adjust to the ball “balls thrown into his area and rolled into a PBU.
“Hunter has shown great ability to understand and match offensive patterns, as well as make-up speed to catch up and make plays on slightly hit balls. What will happen to the two-way timeshare? And is it possible to continue in the NFL? ”
Hunter will likely be one of the top defensive players taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. The question is where will he end up? And if the franchise decision-makers who draft him fully understand his talent.
