Hunt for the Heisman: Travis Hunter Named Heisman Finalist

Photo by Rob Chenoy/USA TODAY SPORTS

Colorado Buffaloes' two-way superstar Travis Hunter was named to the Heisman Trophy finalist list.

He is one of the four athletes heading to New York on Dec. 14.

Other players in the running include Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward, Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty.

Hunter, who transferred from the Jackson State Tigers as part of a package deal with head coach Deion

Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders hit the ground running going from FCS to FBS competition. In

his second year of FBS play, he has shown why he was one of the most hyped players this past decade coming out of high school.

The Case for Travis Hunter

As mentioned, Hunter first signed to play with Deion Sanders and Jackson State on Dec. 15, 2021. Nearly

three years after making that historic decision, he could make more history by winning the Heisman, but

will have some stiff competition.

Many believe that the Heisman race is already down to two players: Jeanty and Hunter. Both have had

historic seasons, with Jeanty in hot pursuit of Barry Sanders’s all-time rushing record of 2,628 yards with

2,497 yards. Jeanty has been the player primarily responsible for Boise State’s College Football Playoff

berth and has put up very impressive numbers aside from his yardage, including his 29 touchdowns, 344

carries and a whopping 7.3 yards per carry average.

Hunter’s case for the Heisman does not lie in his stats though, which are still impressive, but nothing

groundbreaking. Hunter has amassed 92 receptions for 1,192 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12.5 yards per

catch. He has also amassed 31 total tackles, 4 interceptions, 11 pass deflections and a forced fumble.

Notice the offensive and defensive stats.

Hunter has been a two-way player his entire college career, with this season being his best on both sides of the ball. His numbers, while not league-leading, are still eye-catching especially for a two-way player.

Hunter has attracted the attention of professional scouts as well, as he is projected to be a top-10 NFL

Draft prospect for 2025 for both positions he plays. Performing well on both sides of the ball has gotten

him massive attention, so much so he’s a favorite to win college football’s most prestigious individual

award.

What Will Matter More?

While not diminishing the accomplishments of Gabriel and Ward, it is widely believed that this Heisman

chase is a two-person race. Jeanty and Hunter have put up the most eye-catching numbers, have

garnered the most media attention and fandom and have built their teams up into success stories this

season.

The main question to be answered in this race, however, is what will matter more to the Heisman

voters. The similarities in their game have been listed, but what of their differences? Jeanty has the

advantage in numbers, as he is the leader far and away of all running backs and a shoo-in to win awards

like the Doak Walker Award.

Hunter was named as a Fred Biletnikoff Award and Chuck Bednarik Award finalist, however, was not

named to the Jim Thorpe Award finalist list for best defensive back. Will this have an impact on his

Heisman candidacy? Not only that, but will his lack of nation-leading stats, while still impressive, be

another mark against him?

Finally, how much does postseason success matter? Boise State is in the College Football Playoff

because of Jeanty’s efforts. Colorado’s College Football Playoff dreams fell apart at the end of the

season by losing to the Kansas Jayhawks and not making the Big 12 Conference Championship. This isn’t

for lack of trying from Hunter, who again, had a successful season, but how much does team success

factor in?

Jeanty or Hunter?

What will matter the most to the Heisman voters is something that is solely known by the voters

themselves. Multiple factors go into what makes a player “Heisman-worthy” and the fact of the matter

is, both of these young men have Heisman resumes. All four players named finalists do, hence why they

were named the finalists.

However, Jeanty and Hunter’s resumes are the ones that stand out the best to most so far. In a decision

that will surely make people happy, and others upset, let it be known that whoever wins it is deserving no

matter what. Jeanty is unlike any running back we’ve seen in 30 years, while Hunter is the best two-way

player of the 21st Century.

In the end, this will be an exciting, much-anticipated announcement. This is the closest a Heisman race

has been in a long time. What will matter more to voters? Whose stats speak most for themselves? Will

Hunter’s resume be the one that is named the most “Heisman-worthy?” All of that will be figured out

at 8 p.m. EST on Dec. 14.