After winning the Heisman Trophy in the 2024 college football season, Travis Hunter, formerly of the Colorado Buffaloes, still has a big impact on the sport.
Though Hunter, drafted second overall, is now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the two-way star was celebrated for his lasting influence on the college game after his historic season in Boulder.
“Obviously Travis Hunter last year, the success he had, winning the Heisman [Trophy], that struck a chord with a lot of coaches, taking them through their roster: Who do we have that can contribute both ways?” Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham said to ESPN. “The bottom line is: What’s going to help you win games? It’s not the novelty of having a two-way guy. Who’s going to give us the best chance to win?”
The article highlighting Hunter’s effect on the sport discussed the recent increase in two-way players in college football. He finished last season with 96 catches for 1,258 total yards and 15 touchdowns, including four interceptions and 35 total tackles.
Travis Hunter’s Influence on CFB
Previously, Hunter has credited Colorado head coach Deion Sanders for his success with the Buffaloes and at Jackson State University. As Sanders was open to the idea of playing Hunter on both sides of the ball in a first-string position, it has forced coaches around the sport to change their way of thinking.
“Hunter’s surge to the 2024 Heisman at Colorado, while playing full time on both offense and defense, might have nudged coaches to expand their view of what was possible for the right players,” Adam Rittenberg of ESPN wrote. “Although Hunter did things not thought possible in the modern era of college football — he played 2,625 snaps in two seasons at Colorado, leading the FBS in both 2023 and 2024 — his success is already increasing opportunities for others.”
He then highlighted multiple Utah players who recorded statistics on both offense and defense in their Week 1 win over UCLA. As Dillingham saw success from Hunter up close at a conference rival, he has now allowed more of his players to take on a similar role.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Vanderbilt Commodores also have players featured on both sides of the ball, as Rittenberg detailed.
“They’re all occupying expanded roles, at least in part, because of the Travis Hunter effect,” he wrote.
Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy, marking the first time a full two-way player took home the award since the 1960s. He finished first in the conference in receiving touchdowns, second in receiving yards, and tied for second in interceptions.
NFL Debut After Leaving Colorado
Now in the NFL, there were questions about whether Hunter could keep up the same on-field action and snaps played that he did at Colorado. Sanders has been advocating for the star to play both sides of the ball in the league for years, and that came true in his debut for the Jaguars.
Though he played just six snaps on defense, Hunter became the second player in the last ten years to play at least 30 snaps on offense and at least five on defense. He finished with one tackle along with six catches for 33 yards in the first game of his professional career.
After the game, Hunter said he was happy with the playing time he received in his first game with Jacksonville, even though he was mainly featured on just one side of the ball.
“I did my job. That was the main focus, me doing my job,” Hunter said. “I did what they asked me to do, and I know I could do more and I know I could do better.”
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said Hunter played well, adding he “can only see it going and expanding from here.”
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