Sports

Travis Hunter Jr. Deserves To Win Heisman Trophy Because Of One Freakish Play That Didn’t Count

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Travis Hunter Heisman Trophy Interception
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It has yet to be seen whether Travis Hunter Jr. will win the Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football. However, Colorado’s two-way superstar is currently the betting favorite after Cam Ward lost to Georgia Tech on Saturday.

His resume can be summed up by one freakishly athletic play during a win over Texas Tech.

Although the play did not count because of an offside penalty, it reflects Hunter’s defensive dominance in a game where he also finished as the Buffaloes’ leading receiver. There is no one else like him in the entire history of college football. Two-way players are not a new concept, but nobody is on this level.

Offensively speaking, Hunter finished with a game-high nine catches for 99 yards and a touchdown during Colorado’s 41-27 victory in Lubbock. He caught the touchdown on his 99th snap of the game— with a full quarter still left to play.

Hunter finished the evening with 170 (!!) total snaps against the Red Raiders, which was a career high. He played 74 on offense, 89 on defense and seven on special teams.

One particular play really puts his greatness in perspective. And not just because it was an impressive athletic accomplishment, which it was.

Don’t throw at Travis Hunter!

Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton did not throw in Hunter’s direction at any point during the first five(+) possessions of the game. Not even one time through 25 minutes of play. The coaching staff either told him not to do so under any circumstances or he made that decision for himself.

Either way, Morton had a free play on 3rd-and-11 during the second quarter after Colorado jumped offside and chose to take a shot at the Heisman frontrunner. Hunter was slightly out of position right before the ball was snapped but it didn’t matter. He still picked off the pass!

Morton did not throw in that direction again. That was it. Texas Tech threw at Travis Hunter Jr. exactly one single time during all four quarters and the pass was intercepted.