Colorado Buffaloes two-way superstar Travis Hunter took a bit of a shot at Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty, the current front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy.
Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty are among the top candidates to win the Heisman, but the latter is currently the consensus favorite with 1,248 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns over his first six games of 2024.
Hunter has 49 receptions for 587 yards and six touchdowns as a wide receiver for Deion Sanders’ group. On the defensive side of the ball, the stalwart cornerback has two interceptions and three pass breakups.
During an appearance on Robert Griffin’s III “Outta Pocket with RGIII” show, Travis Hunter made a compelling argument against Jeanty winning the Heisman Trophy over him. The 21-year-old noted that Jeanty gets far more touches with the ball than him, allowing the Broncos star to post superior offensive stats:
“(Jeanty) has I think 95 carries for 1,000 yards. If I had 95 catches, how much yards you think I’d have? If I had 95 targets on defense what you think I’d have? If I had 95 catches on offense, what do you think I’d have?
“I try to tell you, he’s got double the touches I’ve got on the offensive side of the ball and I still have defensive stats…that’s still crazy…and we’re only in Week 6, So, I’m not gonna argue about it.”
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Hunter certainly makes a strong case, but the Heisman Trophy, like the NFL MVP award, usually goes to the offensive player who puts up the best numbers. Since Hunter is dominating on both sides of the ball, he won’t realistically put up the type of stats that Jeanty is in Boise State.
Former Michigan Wolverine and Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson is the only defensive player to capture the Heisman, having won the honor in 1997. So unfortunately for Hunter and the folks who think he should win the award, history works against him here.
Travis Hunter Could Be The First Overall Pick In 2025 NFL Draft
A lot can change between now and the 2025 NFL Draft in April, but Hunter is among the favorites to go first overall. At this time, it’s hard to envision a scenario where he falls out of the top five.
Two-way superstars of Hunter’s caliber rarely come around. He has shown the ability to take over games as a wide receiver and shutdown corner, and it’ll be interesting to see how he’s utilized at the professional level.
