Colorado’s Travis Hunter Wins Heisman Trophy

Travis Hunter, the two-way Colorado star who dominates both sides of the ball as a receiver and a cornerback, won the 2024 Heisman Trophy Saturday night in New York City.

Hunter beat out Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, and Miami quarterback Cam Ward for the most prestigious award in college football that is awarded annually to the player who is voted the most outstanding player.

The Heisman Trophy is the crown jewel of the numerous awards Hunter racked up during his unprecedented season. The other awards he won include the AP Player of the Year, Biletnikoff Award (best receiver), Bednarik Award (best defensive player), Lott IMPACT Trophy (defensive impact player of the year), Paul Hornung Award (most versatile award), and Walter Camp Award (college player of the year).

This season at receiver, Hunter recorded 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also recorded a rushing touchdown.

On defense Hunter allowed only 22 catches all season, including 1 that went for a touchdown and just 6 that went for first downs. He had 34 tackles, 4 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and he forced a fumble at the end of an overtime game that gave Colorado the win.

Hunter played 1,443 snaps in total this season, including 1,356 snaps on offense and defense in just 12 games. ESPN said that he played at least 434 more plays than any other player in college football this year.

The most impressive part about his stats on both sides of the ball is conditions under which he achieved them. When he played on offense, he was double teamed on nearly every play and when he played on defense opposing teams avoided throwing to his side of the field.

“If the NFL Draft was tomorrow he’d be the #1 corner picked and he’d be the #1 receiver picked.”@TravisHunterJr x #HE12MAN pic.twitter.com/W6gUwKTXcZ

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) December 8, 2024

Projected to be the No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL Draft, Hunter became only the second defensive player in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy.

Michigan Wolverines cornerback Charles Woodson is the only other defensive player to win the award (1997).

However, Woodson only played situationally on offense and started on defense, whereas Hunter started on both sides of the ball and played nearly every play in the game.

During Woodson’s Heisman year, he intercepted seven passes and made 43 tackles on defense while catching 11 passes for 231 yards and a receiving touchdown on offense. He also had 1 rushing touchdown.