Through four weeks of the college football season, not much is very clear. No top team has really separated themselves from the pack, the elites of the world are either going through QB injuries or lulls of inconsistency, and the parity created by the transfer portal has leveled the playing field, at least so far.
However, one thing is clear: the best player in college football resides in Boulder, Colorado.
Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/wide receiver/dynamo Travis Hunter is a player college football hasn’t seen in a long time. He’s a top flight receiver, but also one of the game’s shutdown corners. He leads the team in receiving yards, while also leading in interceptions. Comparing him to Dodgers slugger/pitcher Shohei Ohtani would be a bit of a stretch at this stage of their respective careers, but Hunter could definitely become that at the next level. However, let’s just sit and appreciate how great Hunter is through four games, and why he can be the Heisman trophy winner this season.
Travis Hunter AS A RECEIVER ONLY is putting up some of the most impressive numbers of any receiver in the nation this year. He’s sixth in the nation in receiving yards, tied for third in receiving touchdowns, and among players with over 20 targets, he’s fifth in Positive Play Rate. Hunter is also doing this while being fourth in targets and first in routes run through four games. He’s producing at an extremely high level, while also being on the field a LOT.
Now, we get to add in his stats AS A DEFENSIVE BACK ONLY. This was more difficult because he simply hasn’t been thrown at a lot. Among all the players Sports Information Solutions can track, he’s tied for being targeted the least with 11 targets. In comparison, Colorado receiver Preston Hodge has been targeted 23 times, 11th most in the country. When Hunter is targeted, he’s only allowed eight catches for 57 yards through four games and not a single touchdown, while also never being flagged for pass interference and deflecting two passes. It’s fair to say Hunter has gotten better, improving his consistency in coverage and not panicking when the ball gets thrown over his head.
He still remains one of the most impressive players in the country when the ball is in the air. Whether it be at receiver or at defensive back, if the ball is in his vicinity, he’s going to go try and take it.
In Colorado’s wild overtime victory against Baylor, Hunter played every snap on defense, and played 81 of 92 snaps on offense. Oh, by the way Hunter also led the team in receptions and yards against Baylor, while not being targeted as a defensive back. He’s simultaneously shutting down half the field for the defense while also being the fulcrum of the Buffaloes offense. That is preposterous levels of production, stuff of college football legend.
Hunter should have his flight booked to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony already. The only thing stopping him from winning is the position he plays and the end of season record for Colorado. The Buffaloes tumbled catastrophically to end the season last year, and this year they face the incredibly tough Big 12. After dropping a game to Nebraska, Colorado can’t afford to lose many more to keep Hunters’ Heisman race alive. LSU QB Jayden Daniels won the award last year and LSU lost three games last season. However, Daniels was a QB, and Hunter is a corner/receiver. More leeway will be given to a signal caller over a skill position player for lost games, so the margin for error for both Colorado and Hunter is razor thin. Plus, with other contenders such as Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty and Miami QB Cameron Ward, the road to the trophy won’t be easy.
Yet, nothing about Travis Hunter in college football is easy. Playing almost every snap of every game isn’t easy. Hunter makes it look like a piece of cake, and for that he should be the early season Heisman winner.