Travis Hunter is a sensational student athlete who made history in December as the first two-way player to win the most prestigious award in college football. After a strong finish to his collegiate career, the humble Heisman winner is headed to the next level, entering the 2025 National Football League (NFL) Draft with projections of being one of the league’s top picks.
Hunter’s road to Colorado and rise to fame began with a remarkable high school performance. Playing both offense and defense on the Collins Hill High School varsity football team in Suwanee, Georgia, he dominated the field.
He led Gwinnett County in interceptions and as a junior, earned the MaxPreps Georgia Player of the Year award, setting single-season records in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. During his senior season, he recorded over 1,000 yards on offense and despite an ankle injury, made 10 catches in the state championship game, with 153 yards, a touchdown and a forced fumble.
After helping Collins Hill win the first state title in the school’s history, he played in the GEICO State Championship Bowl Series, with 10 catches and two touchdowns.
Hunter ended his high school career with a four-year record of 36-17, with a near-perfect 27-4 during his junior and senior seasons, gaining attention as the nation’s top-ranked, five-star recruit.
A Star is Born
Born in West Palm Beach Florida, Hunter’s passion for football was evident from an early age. He performed well both offensively and defensively, displaying natural talent, versatility and an instinctive understanding of the game.
With all eyes on his college selection, he committed to Florida State in March 2020. Then, in a surprising turn of events in December 2021, he announced his decision to switch his commitment to Jackson State University, where Deion “Prime Time” Sanders famously landed a position as head coach.
Sanders, a two-time Super Bowl Champion, Pro and College Football Hall of Famer, played in the NFL from 1989 to 2005, and is recognized as one of the greatest players in history. Wanting to prove that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are capable of producing phenomenal athletes, Sanders’ first collegiate head coaching role sparked the interest and allegiance of Hunter. The highest-ranked recruit to ever commit to an HBCU did a stellar job of proving the prominent figure right.
After one season at Jackson State and being named SWAC Freshman of the Year, both he and Sanders transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder).
Sko Buffs
During the 2022-2023 season, the CU Buffs’ record was an appalling 1-11. With recruits and transfers from all over the U.S. joining the team for the chance to be coached by one of the sport’s greatest, Hunter was the highest-ranked transfer. He burst onto the Colorado scene with a stunning showcase of skills at both cornerback and wide receiver, and Sanders improved the team’s record to 4-8 during the 2023-2024 season.
In his first season at CU Boulder, Hunter earned the Paul Hornung Award for his high-level athleticism and versatility, becoming the 11th player in university history to receive the honor. He was the consensus choice for first-team All-American and first-team Academic All American honors, maintaining an impressive 4.0 GPA throughout his first season.
In the 2023-2024 season, Hunter accumulated 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a wide receiver for the Buffs; and 32 tackles, 4 interceptions and 11 pass deflections as cornerback. Sanders coached the team to an improved 9-4.
Shining Bright
After two seasons playing on both sides of the ball at Folsom Field, and a dynamic display of offensive and defensive strength, Hunter was named the winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
“I was just thanking God the whole time. He put me in the right position to do what I needed to do,” he said, during the award ceremony.
“To the kids who look up to me, keep going. Never let anyone tell you what you can’t do. Keep your foot on the gas.”
Thanking his family and teammates, he continued, “Coach Prime told me this journey would be bigger than anything before. He believed in me, not just as a player but as a person.”
Hunter is the second person in CU Boulder’s history to win the prestigious Heisman award, 30 years after Rashaan Salaam in 1994. He is the 39th Black man to have won the accolade, cementing his name as a part of Black history and joining a long line of Black athletic excellence.
Choosing to forgo his senior season, the Heisman Trophy winner is considered one of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sports fans everywhere are excited to see which jersey he will wear next, and he will always be remembered in Colorado for his momentous success in Black & Gold.
