Travis Hunter’s Historic Season Culminates in Heisman Trophy Victory
Colorado’s standout defensive back and wide receiver, Travis Hunter, was crowned the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday night, edging out Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, and Miami QB Cam Ward.
This heartfelt moment between Travis Hunter and Deion Sanders after Hunter’s Heisman victory is one to remember. 👏
Hunter Wins 2024 Heisman by Narrowest Margin Since 2009
Travis Hunter secured 552 of 901 first-place votes to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy, narrowly defeating Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, who received 309 votes. Oregon's Dillon Gabriel and Miami's Cam Ward finished with 24 and 6 votes, respectively.
The total vote tally was surprisingly close, with Hunter edging Jeanty by just 214 points—2,231 to 2,017. This marks the closest margin for the Heisman since 2009, when Mark Ingram narrowly defeated Toby Gerhart in a race where quarterbacks didn’t finish in the top two.
In his emotional acceptance speech, Hunter thanked God, his parents, his girlfriend, teammates, coaches, teachers, and, of course, Colorado supporter Lil Wayne.
Check out Travis Hunter’s full speech after winning the 2024 Heisman Trophy 👏.
Travis Hunter’s Unprecedented 2024 Heisman-Winning Season
Travis Hunter’s 2024 season stands as one of the most remarkable in modern college football history. As a dual-threat star for Colorado, Hunter was a constant presence on both offense and defense, excelling at both positions.
On offense, Hunter caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, adding a rushing touchdown to his impressive tally. On defense, he recorded four interceptions, 11 passes defensed, and over 30 tackles. His stats could have been even more impressive if not for missing parts of two games due to a shoulder injury.
Hunter is the first player since Alabama's DeVonta Smith in 2020 to win the Heisman while not playing quarterback and just the fifth non-quarterback to claim the prestigious award in the 21st century. Other non-QB Heisman winners of the 2000s include Smith, Alabama running backs Derrick Henry (2015) and Mark Ingram (2009), and USC running back Reggie Bush (2005).
Hunter: The Human Highlight Reel
Since arriving at Colorado in 2023, Hunter has delivered one jaw-dropping play after another. In September, he made a game-saving play in overtime against Baylor. After Colorado sent the game to OT with a miraculous Hail Mary, Hunter forced a fumble at the goal line, securing a dramatic win for the Buffaloes.
A week later, Hunter made a spectacular diving interception against UCF, showcasing his ball-hawking skills.
Then in November, he made an absurd fourth-down catch between two defenders against Utah, setting up a touchdown on the next play.
Hunter finished the season with at least nine catches in six of Colorado's 12 games and scored a touchdown in eight of them. As Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty made a late-season push for the single-season rushing record, Hunter responded with five touchdowns in Colorado’s final two games. He had eight catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kansas, and followed it up with 10 catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns in a dominant win over Oklahoma State. By Black Friday, Hunter had already sealed the Heisman, scoring a touchdown and grabbing an interception in the first quarter of a crucial game.
Hunter’s Impact on Both Sides of the Ball
While Hunter is not the first player to play both cornerback and wide receiver at a high level, he is undoubtedly the best. Players like 1997 Heisman winner Charles Woodson, Georgia’s Champ Bailey, and Ohio State’s Chris Gamble have also played both positions at the highest level. However, Hunter’s statistics far surpass theirs.
Bailey, in 1998, had 47 catches for 744 yards and five touchdowns, along with 16 carries for 84 yards, three interceptions, and a kick return. He finished seventh in Heisman voting, behind winner Ricky Williams and five quarterbacks. Gamble, another two-way star, recorded 31 catches for 499 yards and four interceptions in 2002, while also contributing 46 kick and punt returns. Woodson, known for his stellar defense, had 11 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns in his Heisman-winning season of 1997.
None of these players, however, matched Hunter’s all-around production. His 2024 campaign set a new standard for two-way players in college football, combining elite performances on both sides of the ball to earn him the Heisman Trophy.
Hunter’s Unconventional Journey to the Heisman
Travis Hunter’s recruitment was one of the most unique stories of the 2022 cycle. A native of Georgia, Hunter was a unanimous five-star prospect and the top-ranked recruit in the nation according to Rivals. Known for his ability to excel both as a wide receiver and a cornerback, he was classified as an “athlete” and drew scholarship offers from powerhouse programs across the country.
But instead of choosing a traditional football powerhouse, Hunter made a surprising decision: he committed to Jackson State in the FCS, where he would play for legendary coach Deion Sanders. At the time, Sanders was entering his third season with the Tigers, who had finished 11-2 in 2021.
In 2022, Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders played pivotal roles in Jackson State’s undefeated regular season. After the season, Deion Sanders was named the head coach at Colorado, and Hunter, Shedeur, and safety Shilo Sanders all followed him to Boulder, where their journey in the Power Five began.
Hunter’s Heisman Case in 2023 and a Strong 2024 Rebound
Travis Hunter’s 2023 season could have been a fascinating Heisman story had he played in every game for Colorado. Unfortunately, Hunter missed three games after suffering a lacerated liver from a hit by a Colorado State player. Despite the injury, over nine games Hunter still recorded 57 catches for 721 yards, along with 30 tackles and three interceptions. However, Colorado struggled, finishing 4-8 and losing all but one of its conference games after a strong 3-0 start to the season.
In 2024, the Buffaloes made significant progress on both sides of the ball. After a Week 2 loss to Nebraska, they rebounded by winning three straight games, only to falter in October with a loss to Kansas State. However, Colorado finished strong, winning five of their last six games, tying for first place in the Big 12. Unfortunately, they lost out on a four-way tiebreaker due to a Week 13 loss to Kansas.
Looking ahead, Hunter has already declared his intention to enter the NFL draft after this season. He is widely expected to be a top-five pick, even though he is likely to focus on one position at the professional level. However, college football fans may get one last chance to see him in action. Colorado will face BYU in the Alamo Bowl on December 28, and Deion Sanders has confirmed that both Hunter and Shedeur Sanders will participate in the game.
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