While the Colorado Buffaloes continue to find success on the field, the awards might escape them off the field.
Coming into the 2024 football season, Travis Hunter and Sheduer Sanders were both in conversation for the Heisman Trophy. However, both players may fail to make the final five candidates as each player remains out of the top athletes at the position.
Most recently, PFF revealed the top-ten college football wide receivers thus far into the season, and excluded Hunter. Hunter has been considered a ‘generational talent’ and to see his absence from the list, many Colorado Buffaloes fans and supporters are shocked.
Highest Graded WRs This Season⭐️ pic.twitter.com/zI5T1fCSLp
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 27, 2024
Currently, Hunter has receiver a grade of 83.8 as a receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes this season. Hunter has had four-straight 100-yard games along with five touchdowns and 37 receptions through four games. While Hunter may not be in the top-ten, he is currently the 11th-ranked wide receiver sitting .2-points behind Jaylin Noel of Iowa State.
Hunter has been considered a Heisman Trophy frontrunner by many, but may not be the best at either position he currently plays.
Travis Hunter got to be the front runner for the Heisman!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) September 22, 2024
Travis Hunter should be the leading candidate to the Heisman
— Erik Morse (@erockkid) September 27, 2024
No Travis hunter🤔@RalphieCeesU ???? thought he was generational
— SHARKARI(#Rj4Heisman/Kj Jeffersonian (@Sharkari_) September 27, 2024
Hunter has been a major contributor on both sides of the football this season for the Buffaloes, between being a lethal receiver and a shutdown cornerback. The bonus Hunter has provided on offense has largely been the reason the Colorado Buffaloes are currently 3-1 on the season.
Colorado Buffaloes Wide Receiver Travis Hunter Snubbed From Top-Ten Graded Receivers List
While many seem confused or unsure of why Hunter has been left out of the top-ten graded wide receivers, it is largely due to one stat area.
Yards per route run is a new statistics that is rather pivotal for a receiver as it determines how long the route they ran is. A shorter route is given a lower grade as it is deemed to take less skill from the receiver to perform. Thus far into the season, Hunter currently averages 2.64 yards per route run, which was something Hunter actually really excelled at while playing for Jackson State.
Since the move to Colorado, the Colorado Buffaloes have utilized Hunter is a way that promotes receptions and yardage but not separation. Hunter averages 4.1 yards after catch per reception, which means he often is not going far after catching the ball. The receiver can break off massive plays with ease, and that threat is rather dangerous for defenses.
Hunter could certainly see his grades shoot up throughout the season, but it will largely come down to the separation he is able to create.
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