Travis Hunter tracker: Colorado star reinvigorates Heisman campaign with electrifying night

Two-way star Travis Hunter's Heisman campaign had lost some momentum of late. Hunter left Colorado's loss to Kansas State on Oct. 12 early because of a shoulder injury and missed the second half of a win at Arizona last week because of the same problem. Returning to full action Saturday night against Cincinnati, Hunter was quick to remind everyone why he is such a special player in a 34-23 win at Colorado.

A look at his performance:

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Statistics against Cincinnati

Nine catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns; two tackles, four pass breakups

Hunter did most of its damage before halftime, as Colorado spent much of the second half chewing time to maintain a multiple-point lead.

However, with this performance, Hunter now has 757 yards receiving this season – 36 more than last season. Colorado still has four games left in the regular season.

Travis Hunter's Heisman campaign stalled in recent weeks after his shoulder injury.

He's making another case against Cincinnati tonight.

Caught seven passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. I also canceled two passports.

— David Ubben (@davidubben) October 27, 2024

Snap count

130 total snaps (68 offense, 62 defense)

Although it looked like he was playing at less than 100 percent at various points Saturday night, Hunter was still on the field on all but three of Colorado's combined offensive and defensive snaps – he asked for a play after being awkwardly pulled down (and drew a pass). Interference flag) on ​​a 34-yard reception in the fourth quarter and then sat on Colorado's two squats to end the game.

Prior to his injury against Kansas State, Hunter was averaging 124 snaps per game, so this outing put him back at that level.

Signature moment

Make your choice. Hunter had seven catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns before halftime, and both results were underwhelming.

The first part covers the highlights of Hunter's backflip and the Spider-Man celebration:

Travis Hunter makes it look easy 😮‍💨@TravisHunterJr X #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/aNjTbC8TZT

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) October 27, 2024

What you can't see in the clip above is how Hunter felt so wide open. Hunter, lining up wide to the left of QB Shedeur Sanders on the second-and-goal spot at the Cincinnati 3, fended off a nasty release, hesitated with a shoulder fake at the goal line and then fended his way into the back of the end zone . It all happened in the blink of an eye and gave Sanders an easy target.

Later, Sanders and Hunter connected for a 34-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the first half. Once again positioned wide, Hunter found space behind the second level of Cincinnati's zone coverage, and Sanders delivered a deep ball to him despite absorbing a QB hit right up the middle.

ANOTHER TD FOR TRAVIS HUNTER 😤 pic.twitter.com/qWxfhdLMPH

– ESPN (@espn) October 27, 2024

Cincinnati also had no answers for Sanders. He completed 25 of 30 passes for 323 yards and two TDs and added a rushing touchdown.

What it means

Hunter went No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Mock Draft by Nick Baumgardner The athlete earlier this month. As The athleteHowever,'s Dane Brugler wrote after Hunter's early exit from the Kansas State game, “The number of snaps (Hunter) plays per game has scouts crossing their fingers that the added load won't lead to injuries.” was on Hunter's mind last season and it was true again (against Kansas State). Standing just over 6 feet tall but weighing only 180 pounds, he has a very lean, muscular build and is not afraid to engage in physical activity and throw his body around. His game and his heavy workload invite wear and tear.”

Barring a serious, long-term injury, Hunter's preternatural talent will offset many of those durability questions – especially if NFL teams are only eyeing him as a wide receiver or cornerback and not to double as he did for Colorado has.

Still, it was important to Hunter's Heisman push, his draft stock and Colorado's hopes overall that he got back on the field and looked his usual self. He did it on Saturday evening.

Required reading

(Photo: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)