NEW YORK - Colorado football has only had a handful of elite talents come around in the program’s 134-year history. Rashan Salaam, Darian Hagan and Eric Bienemy – all from the Bill McCartney dynasty – make up most of them. In just two years, Travis Hunter has come to Boulder and surpassed all of his predecessors.
This week, Hunter has won the Belitnikoff Award (best WR), the Bednarik Award (best defensive player), the Lott IMPACT Award (most impactful defensive player), the Paul Hornung Award for the second straight year (most versatile player), the Walter Camp Award (best overall player) and the Associated Press Player of the Year. With the Heisman Trophy announcement coming Saturday night, Hunter could add to what is already the most decorated individual season in college football history.
“I did what I had to do… I worked so hard for this moment,” Hunter said Friday. “Securing a Heisman [Trophy would] definitely set my legacy in college football.”
Forget about his legacy in college football. CU might have to build an entire new wing in the Champions Center dedicated to Hunter to fit all of his awards. Before his arrival, Colorado had 10 award winners in the program's history. Hunter has almost matched that in just two years, winning six awards, with a potential seventh looming Saturday.
Remember, he was also named the AP Player of the Year and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
When asked about his legacy at Colorado, Hunter humbly talked about how his legendary performance has helped the players who will follow in his footsteps.
“I think I laid the ground for more people to come in and go two ways,” Hunter said. “Also, I laid down that I’m a hard worker, so I’m trying to help out the younger guys that [are] coming in for the bowl game.”
Numerous recruits across the country are looking for a program where they can play on both sides of the ball. For those already in the program, Isaiah Hardge is a young name who is looking to reciprocate Hunter’s style on both sides of the ball next season when more opportunity comes his way.
“I’m going to lead the way for them,” Hunter said.
With one game left for Hunter in his Colorado career, here is where Hunter ranks in notable categories amongst other Colorado greats:
Single-season receptions: 2nd (92)
Single-season receiving yards: 3rd (1,152)
Single-season touchdown receptions: 1st (14)
Career receiving touchdowns: T-7th (19)
Career receptions: 7th (150)
Every other receiver in the top 10 in these categories (except for Laviska Shenault Jr.) played four years in the black and gold. Hunter has had just two seasons and has missed time in multiple games in both seasons due to injury.
The craziest part of it all? Hunter didn’t even want to come to Colorado at first when Coach Prime left Jackson State to come to Boulder in 2022.
“I definitely did not want to go here, I did not want to stay at Colorado when I first got there,” Hunter said. “Once I found out the place where I wanted to stay everything started to come into play. I love it. I think Colorado is kind of the best state if I’m being honest.”
What the two-way star has done in just two seasons at Colorado is almost unfathomable, especially for CU fans who have been cheering on low-level football for the majority of the 21st century. Even if he doesn’t win the Heisman Trophy tonight, his legacy is cemented as arguably the greatest CU football player of all time.
Hunter will have one more game as a Buffalo to try and achieve a higher status on the CU leaderboards when Colorado competes in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. For now, Hunter has the Heisman on his mind, which will be announced tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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