Colorado Buffaloes Wide Receiver/Cornerback Travis Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy at a ceremony hosted at the Jazz at Lincoln Center on Saturday night in New York City. Hunter joins an exclusive list that includes some of the best players in football history including Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen, and Joe Burrow.
Hunter, who played cornerback and wide receiver for the Buffaloes this season, is the first two-way player to win the prestigious award since Michigan star Desmond Howard in 1997. Hunter was the prohibitive favorite entering tonight’s ceremony and went home with the award. How will Hunter’s historic season be remembered?
Hunter’s Heisman Trophy Case
The star Colorado player won resoundingly because he was one of the best players in the nation at two positions. He was fifth in the country in receptions, sixth in receiving yards, and second in receiving touchdowns. Hunter was also a standout cornerback. He added four interceptions this season and only allowed 22 receptions to opposing receivers. Hunter’s Heisman moment came in his final regular season game against Oklahoma State. He had 3 touchdowns on offense and an interception on defense in the game.
Hunter played 1,377 snaps this year. That was 379 more than any other player. The Heisman was far from the only accolade Hunter won after a great season. He was named the Lott IMPACT Trophy for the nation’s best defensive player, the Paul Hornung Award for the most versatile player, and the Walter Camp Award which goes to the best player in the sport. He also won countless other awards.
Final Thoughts
The two-way star has one game left in his collegiate career as he leads the Buffaloes against No. 17 BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl on December 28. The Heisman Trophy winner said that he plans on playing both offense and defense in the National Football League, and he will let the teams know just as much during the pre-draft process.
He is the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft according to PFF. It is hard to fathom that he will be able to play as many snaps as he did in college on both sides of the ball. He may follow in the footsteps of his Head Coach Deion Sanders who played primarily cornerback in the NFL, and was a supplementary piece on offense as a wide receiver and returned kicks sporadically. One of college football’s most versatile players has won the historic Heisman Trophy and his impact on the game will not be forgotten anytime soon.
