Travis Hunter is a rare talent who may even be ahead of his legendary coach Deion Sanders at this stage of his college career. Sanders, now widely known as Coach Prime, coaches the Colorado Buffaloes and has publicly stated that Hunter, a potential Heisman candidate in his junior season, is ahead of Sanders even during his college years. That’s high praise considering the success Sanders had as a two-time All-American at Florida State, where he finished fifth in the 1989 NFL Draft and won the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior.
Hunter’s 2023 season was nothing short of remarkable. Despite missing three games due to a liver injury, he still managed to play the most snaps in the FBS, proving his exceptional durability and versatility. He averaged 115 plays per game, which is phenomenal. His contributions were significant on both sides of the ball, with 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns on offense, and 30 tackles and three interceptions on defense.
“He’s a good person, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t drink, he doesn’t go out and whore, he doesn’t do crazy things,” Sanders said at CU’s media day. “He has one of the best GPAs on the team, he’s a great person, he can play, his character is second to none. So I don’t mind fishing with him. And he’s coming to Texas. And we don’t talk about fishing on the boat, although we talk rubbish all the time, we talk about life.”
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“We’re talking about the next step. We’re talking about the land acquisition. We’re talking about so many different things in life, fatherhood, you know, love, what role family plays in all of this. So it’s just a joy to have caught him so fresh out of high school.”
What separates Hunter from Sanders at this stage is his ability to play at a high level on both offense and defense, something Sanders failed to do during his college years at Florida State. Although Sanders eventually became a two-way player in the NFL, it didn’t happen until his fourth season, and even then his offensive contributions were limited. By comparison, Hunter’s impact in college has already drawn comparisons to Sanders’ best pro seasons.
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Coach Prime’s admiration for Hunter extends beyond football, highlighting his character and academic achievements. As Hunter continues to develop, his football development will be one to watch closely. With one more season in Colorado, he has a chance to accomplish something truly exceptional, making him a player to be treasured while still in college.
