Colorado’s Travis Hunter Brings Home the Heisman

Travis Hunter has won this year's Heisman in one of the most highly anticipated award races in recent memory. Hunter primarily competed against standout Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, despite Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel and Miami’s QB Cam Ward also being in the running. Hunter has been a force on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball for the Colorado Buffaloes this season. It is truly remarkable to have watched a player dominate on both sides of the ball; yet, even with this generational feat, an uproar has arisen over whether he truly deserved this award over Jeanty.

For me, I don’t think it was much of a discussion as some may have made it out to be, and that is no disrespect to the player Jeanty has been. Hunter has been a legitimate top-five receiver and top-five corner this season, and the tape and stats back it up. His 1,152 receiving yards, along with his 14 receiving touchdowns, place him sixth and second, respectively. On the defensive side of the ball, Hunter has also taken the ball away with four interceptions to go along with 11 pass deflections. There is a short list of players who have been this successful on both sides of the ball, including himself and Hall of Famer Charles Woodson. Obviously, that is no easy feat and one that clearly persuaded the voters in Hunter's favor.

Many have pointed to the media's fixation on the number of snaps Hunter has played and have tried to use it to discredit the two-way star, claiming that snaps played are not a stat. However, I would like to debunk that statement: while snaps themselves may not be an integral stat, the fact that a player is so heavily relied upon in both phases of the game and not only delivers but exceeds all expectations is truly remarkable. It is a testament to how truly insane an athlete Hunter is to be able to play on both sides all the time at the highest level.

Ultimately, I think this is the best outcome for the award, as players like Hunter are truly one of a kind. It is a shame that so many have decided to slam the player and not the people who decide the awards for this decision. You would think that by this point in time, fans and general consumers alike would realize that awards ceremonies always result in hurt feelings and disappointment for some party involved. For most of the group of men who were nominated, the focus now shifts toward the draft. Hunter, Jeanty, and Cam Ward will all be highly regarded prospects and surefire first-round picks. It will be exciting to see where things go from here as the NFL and CFB seasons start coming to a close.