Is Travis Hunter playing both ways for Colorado football, Deion Sanders?

Bill Bender

•
Is Travis Hunter playing both ways for Colorado football, Deion Sanders? image

It takes a two-way superstar to know one. 

If the opener is any indication, then Colorado coach Deion Sanders is going to use Travis Hunter on both sides of the ball as much as possible. 

Hunter started at receiver and cornerback for the Buffaloes in Saturday's opener against No. 17 TCU on Saturday, and was a key player in the team's stunning 45-42 upset of the Horned Frogs. He is an impact player on both sides and a huge piece of the first-year plan for the Buffaloes. 

Hunter played more than 60 snaps in the first half. 

On Colorado's first drive, Hunter caught two passes for 15 yards and drew a face-mask penalty on a 9-yard catch. Hunter was targeted on a deep pass on the Buffaloes' second drive. Hunter also started at cornerback, and teammate Trevor Woods intercepted TCU quarterback Chandler Morris on the game's first drive. 

Later, Hunter drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone against TCU, leading to Colorado's second touchdown of the day.

Hunter also made a red-zone interception in the third quarter. 

It looks like the making of college football's next two-way superstar, though those who have tracked Hunter from high school through his time with Sanders at Jackson State shouldn't be surprised. 

He took over social media during Saturday's game: 

Who is Travis Hunter? 

Hunter was the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.com. He was projected to commit to Florida State, but Sanders made a splash by landing Hunter at Jackson State in that class in one of the most surprising decisions in recent memory. 

Hunter played offense and defense for Jackson State last season. He had two interceptions and eight pass breakups as a cornerback and 18 catches for 190 yards and four TDs as a receiver. He transferred to Colorado after Sanders was hired. 

Travis Hunter stats

It was an unreal box score for Hunter's first game with the Buffaloes. He finished the game with 11 receptions for 119 yards on offense, while tallying three total tackles, a pass defended and an interception against the Horned Frogs.

According to ESPN, Hunter became the first FBS player in the past 20 years to catch at least eight passes and record an interception in the same game.

Deion Sanders and Travis Hunter: Two-way stars 

Sanders was a multi-sport star at Florida State before engaging in a Hall of Fame career as a cornerback in the NFL. Sanders also played receiver and punt returner for the Dallas Cowboys – not to mention nine seasons as an Major League Baseball outfielder. 

Hunter does not play baseball, but Sanders' recognized the talent in a press conference on April 18. 

"Travis is better (than me) at this age and stage," Sanders told reporters. "He may not be as fast, but the intangibles and who he is, he is better. He is better at this age and stage. He really is, by far."

Who was college football's last two-way star?

Michigan's Charles Woodson won the Heisman Trophy in 1997. Woodson played primarily at cornerback. He had seven interceptions and a pick six that season but also had 11 catches for 231 yards and two TDs. Woodson topped that off with a punt return for a touchdown against Ohio State. He led the Wolverines to the AP national championship.

Hunter appears in line to get even more work on both sides of the ball, which could make him a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2023. 

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.