The Colorado football team secured the Big-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors as Travis Hunter was awarded.
Hunter, a dynamic player on both sides of the football for Colorado, added two touchdowns and over 100 yards on the offense side of the ball. The hybrid athlete has also continued to play the majority of snaps, both on offense and defense, for the Colorado Buffaloes.
The wide receiver currently has 342 yards and five touchdowns on 30 receptions through three games. Hunter has been on a tear and capped it off against Colorado State by dominating on both sides of the football.
The wide receiver caught 13 passes for 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns against the in-state rivals.
Colorado’s Travis Hunter was named the Big 12 defensive player of the week today for his performance against Colorado State. And he also caught 13 passes for 100 yards and 2 TD on offense. #cubuffs
— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) September 16, 2024
Hunter played well enough on the defensive side of the ball in particular to earn Big-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. Hunter recorded an interception and a 38-yard return along with five tackles against the Rams. The defensive back also added a pass defense, allowing virtually nothing to occur on his side of the field.
While Hunter has received plenty of praise on offense this season, the Colorado star has been just as effective defensively. Hunter has only allowed a handful of receptions this season and has limited the big plays from happening which is exactly what the team needs from him.
Travis Hunter Continues to Serve Both Sides of the Field For the Colorado Football Team
Heading into the 2024 season, Hunter was expected to take a step back and play far less for the team. Hunter was expected to have the same impact, but would no longer play nearly every down on each side of the football. However, that has not been the case thus far into the 2024 season for the Buffaloes.
Hunter played all but a handful of snaps against the North Dakota State Bison to begin the season, which all came on the defensive side.
Travis Hunter through three games as a junior with the #CUBuffs:
* 388 snaps played (178 on O, 202 D, 8 ST)
* Team-high 30 catches for 342 yards and 5 TDs
* Targeted 14 times in coverage defensively and has only given up 75 yards (per PFF) with one INT, two PBUs, and 11 tackles.— Adam Munsterteiger (@adamcm777) September 15, 2024
Coach Deion Sanders continues to find new ways to use Hunter, and with more options and motion plays, Hunter continues to play. A dip in his total production is possible and likely due to how the receiver has been playing, but a dip in usage seems very unlikely. The Colorado staff loves the athlete and feels he offers the most to the team by being out on the field consistently.
It is hard not to play Hunter as much as he has played this season given what he offers a team on both sides of the ball. While Hunter can score with ease and break open big plays for the Buffaloes, he has also learned how to create his own island on defense.
Expect to continue to see Hunter dominating on both sides of the ball moving forward as Colorado continues to find new ways to use the athlete.
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