Colorado’s Travis Hunter was named the winner of the Heisman Trophy, school soccer’s most prestigious particular person award, changing into the primary honoree in additional than 20 years to play vital roles on each offense and protection.
Hunter was considered one of 4 Heisman finalists Saturday, and the heavy betting favourite to win. His fellow finalists have been Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty.
The award is set by 928 voters together with media members, residing previous Heisman winners and one fan vote.
Hunter acquired 552 first-place votes, 2,231 factors from voters total and earned 80.14% of the potential factors, however his victory over runner-up Jeanty was no runaway. Hunter’s 214-point margin of victory was the Heisman’s smallest in 15 years. Gabriel completed third in voting and Ward was fourth.
Hunter’s two-way stardom is uncommon; not since Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997 has a Heisman winner performed on either side of the ball. For Hunter, it was no gimmick. Along with the Heisman, Hunter this season was additionally named as a finalist for the awards given to varsity soccer’s high receiver and high defensive participant.
As a cornerback, Hunter’s 11 go breakups ranked eighth within the NCAA’s Soccer Bowl Subdivision. He additionally added 4 interceptions, 15 passes defended and scored on a game-winning compelled fumble restoration.
As a large receiver, Hunter caught 92 passes to guide the Large 12 Convention and rank fifth within the nation. Hunter’s 1,152 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns have been sixth and second within the NCAA, respectively. No receiver was a extra constant big-play risk, with an FBS-leading 21 catches of 20 yards or extra.
Hunter, who has stated he’ll enter the NFL draft following Colorado’s season, started his school profession by upending expectations.
Because the nation’s high highschool recruit in 2022, he spurned applications from the game’s strongest conferences to enroll at Jackson State, a traditionally Black college, to play for then-coach Deion Sanders. When Colorado employed Sanders in December 2022, Hunter adopted his coach — who had bent expectations throughout his personal profession, enjoying each within the NFL and MLB — to Boulder.
Hunter is Colorado’s second Heisman winner, becoming a member of working again Rashaan Salaam in 1994.
Andrew Greif
Andrew Greif is a contract sports activities journalist.
