Is Travis Hunter the Best Player in College Football?

Colorado’s Travis Hunter has been having a stellar 2024 campaign with the Buffs. He’s extremely active, playing on both sides of the ball at wide receiver and cornerback. Hunter doesn’t seem to get much rest during games, and many people think that might not be necessary. He’s drawn comparisons to great two-way college football players like Georgia’s Champ Bailey, and Michigan’s Charles Woodson. Charles Woodson is the only two-way player in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy. But Travis Hunter seems to be challenging that, and he’s been on Woodson’s heels.

Travis Hunter was the #1 player in the country as a high school senior and made headlines, flipping his commitment from Florida State to Jackson State to be coached by the legendary Deion Sanders. When Sanders took the Colorado job, he brought his luggage with him, as he says. And Travis Hunter was a part of that, along with Sanders’s sons Shiloh and Sheduer and other transfers.

Travis Hunter has been a Heisman contender since the beginning of the season, and he’s held that moniker. Let’s break it down.

Travis Hunter: The Two-Way Star

As a cornerback, Travis is on the taller side at 6’1 but his hip movement is pristine and he does an exceptional job of staying with the receiver in coverage. In press man coverage, his footwork is twitchy at the line and he stays in front of the receiver. He doesn’t always get hands on the wideout at the line, but his speed helps him keep up.

In zone coverage, he reads the quarterback effectively and can move from one zone to another, making plays on the ball. Hunter track can track the ball downfield and grab it at the highest point, which is a major advantage for a defensive back. Aside from coverage, he’s physical in the run game and doesn’t shy away from contact.

As a wide receiver, Hunter gets open often against zone coverage, finding the gaps in the defense on short to intermediate routes. In man coverage, he’s able to create separation with speed and using his hands to swipe away from defenders. On contested catches, he can go up and get the ball. On the deep route, he tracks the ball closely. He gets a lot of work done in the middle of the field.

2024 stats through five games: On offense, Hunter has 37 catches for 437 yards and five receiving touchdowns. On defense, he has 14 total tackles, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one interception.

When Travis Hunter got an interception against UCF on 09/28/24, he ran down to the endzone and hit the Heisman Pose.

WHAT AN INTERCEPTION BY TRAVIS HUNTER

He makes the play and hits the Heisman pose 🔥@CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/cF3MLeOpuM

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 28, 2024

Is Travis Hunter the best player in College Football?

For more articles check out gridironheroics.com and for more sports content, follow me on Twitter/Instagram @bjt_era