It was very apparent that Deion Sanders’ Colorado football team was missing Travis Hunter Jr. on both sides of the ball during Saturday night’s chippy double overtime win over Colorado State. The Buffaloes will need to adjust quickly to his absence because a return may not be imminent.
Rather, Coach Prime says that a return is not imminent.
Hunter, the former No. 1 overall recruit in the college football recruiting Class of 2022, flipped his commitment to Jackson State at the last moment after all signs pointed toward Florida State. The Tigers’ Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach allowed him the opportunity to play both ways, which is something that other schools did not.
The Buffaloes recorded wins over TCU and Nebraska to begin the year and set the sports world on fire. Hunter combined for 14 catches catches for 192 yards and six tackles with an interception during the first two weeks of the season.
He was very vocal ahead of the the in-state rivalry bout on Saturday.
Unfortunately, he did not see much time against the Rams. The defense laid a dirty late hit on the two-way star early in the first half and knocked him out of the game.
Hunter returned to action for a few plays in the second quarter, because he’s a dog. And then the medical staff decided to take him to the hospital at halftime.
An official status is unclear at this time. The same can be said for a diagnosis.
Travis Hunter Jr. is on the mend.
His girlfriend provided an update from the hospital. It seems as though Hunter is doing alright and in good spirits. She did not go any further.
Around the same time, shortly after the game ended, Sanders offered what he knew. The outlook on a speedy return is grim.
Coach Prime said that Hunter will be out for a few weeks. That was all he could say— “a few weeks.”
There is always a chance that Sanders’ timeline was gamesmanship, to keep his opponents from knowing whether to game plan for Hunter or not. That seems unlikely.
Best case scenario for a “few weeks” would put Hunter back out on the field for Colorado’s road game against Arizona State. It alludes to the idea that he will miss at least the next two games at No. 13 Oregon and in Boulder against top-five USC.
Hunter was missing from both sides of the ball in a gutsy win against the Rams. He provides a spark that can be felt at any moment and his teammates must step up in his absence if they want any chance to beat either of the next two opponents.
More details are sure to come out in coming days about Hunter’s injury. The placement of the hit would indicate an upper body issue to the untrained eye, but doctors will be able to provide more information.