NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Travis Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy Award over Ashton Jeanty, Cam Ward, and Daniel Gabriel.
Hunter earned the Award by finishing his season at Colorado with 92 receptions for 1152 yards and 14 TDs as a wide receiver and 4 INTs as a standout Cornerback. Charles Woodson of Michigan was the last two-way player to win the Heisman in 1997.
Hunter was seen as the favorite early on in the season and with Colorado finishing with a winning record, it was Hunter’s award to lose. However, Jeanty made this a tough choice. The outstanding RB finished the 2024 regular season with 2497 yards and 29 TDs. This was always viewed as a two-man race between these two players.
Hunter and his Colorado Buffaloes will now get ready to play BYU in the Alamo Bowl on December 28th in San Antonio, TX. This will be Hunter’s last collegiate game, as he has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. Many have Hunter possibly going No.1 or at least somewhere in the top 5.
Hunter began his college career at Jackson State with Deion Sanders who earned his recognition in the NFL by being a two-way player as well for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, and the Dallas Cowboys. Now, Hunter will take the mantle and try to live up to the hype of his mentor and former coach Sanders.
The Heisman for Hunter is a bit more special as many questioned whether Hunter can dominate at the top level as he did while at JSU. Coming from an HBCU, the concerns about him performing at a Power school were quieted the moment he stepped on the field.
Dominating what many consider lesser schools was one thing but doing so on a stage in which Colorado was placed thanks to the personality of their coach, Hunter more than proved he was up for the challenge. Now he walks away as the top College player in the country.
If there are still questions concerning the type of talent being hidden in HBCUs, Hunter’s emergence on the national scene and that of his teammate Shedeur Sanders should shed a bigger light on schools like Jackson State, NCCU, Grambling State, and others like it.
The Heisman Committee may have overlooked a player like Travis Hunter had he stayed at JSU but a move to Colorado changed everything. He will now enter the NFL Draft as the 2024 Heisman Award winner.
