Travis Hunter was at it once more Saturday, making performs on either side of the ball as Colorado (No. 17 within the newest School Soccer Playoff rankings) secured its fourth consecutive win, 49-24 over Utah.
Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Hunter No. 1 on his up to date 2025 NFL Draft huge board — two spots up from Hunter’s preseason slot. Brugler wrote: “Hunter is one of the best draft-eligible participant within the nation, and I don’t assume that may change between now and April. Does he undertaking finest at broad receiver? Cornerback? Each? These questions can be answered as he progresses by the method, however regardless, Hunter is the clear favourite to be the primary non-quarterback drafted.”
Extra on Hunter’s newest efficiency:
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Stat line vs. Utah
5 catches for 55 yards; one carry for five yards and a TD; three tackles, one INT, one go breakup
What different participant in school soccer is placing up a stat line like that?
Hunter had an interception and an enormous fourth-down reception within the first half alone, then put the icing on the cake with this unbelievable effort on a reverse within the closing moments:
TRAVIS HUNTER IS JUST A CHEAT CODE 😱@CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/SUCHVonSOq
— FOX School Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 16, 2024
Hunter’s teammate, Colton Hood, deserves an help for Hunter’s first-quarter interception. On the play, Utah QB Isaac Wilson underthrew a deep nook path to Munir McClain, and Hood recovered in time to pop the ball out of McClain’s arms — and into the arms of Hunter, who broke off his protection to trace the play and document his third INT of the yr. Hunter then turned again upfield for a 21-yard return.
The Heisman frontrunner is now simply 89 yards shy of 1,000 yards receiving on the season, with two regular-season video games plus attainable Massive 12 title recreation and School Soccer Playoff appearances forward.
Hunter did have a uncommon slip-up in protection. Within the third quarter, Utah broad receiver Dorian Singer blew previous Hunter, who was taking part in man protection with no security assist excessive, and hauled in a fantastic 40-yard landing throw from Wilson. It was the primary TD Hunter has allowed all season.
Signature second
NFL evaluators love receivers who can end contested catches and possess aggressive ball expertise within the air. It’d be exhausting to point out off both talent a lot better than this:
TRAVIS HUNTER IS UNREAL 🤯
He makes an absurd catch for @CUBuffsFootball on 4th & 8 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OuIIY8e4vD
— FOX School Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 16, 2024
As if the catch itself wasn’t spectacular sufficient, understand that it got here on fourth-and-8 in a one-possession recreation simply earlier than halftime. Colorado scored a TD on its subsequent snap when QB Shedeur Sanders hit WR Will Sheppard.
With that 28-yard reception, Hunter has a catch of 20-plus yards in eight of Colorado’s 10 video games this season.
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What it means
The one remaining query Hunter has to reply is whether or not he needs to give attention to one aspect of the ball on the subsequent stage. It’ll doubtless be as a lot concerning the wants of his new group — the match, scheme, the whole lot else — as it is going to Hunter truly declaring himself completely a nook or WR.
He’s ok to play within the league now, simply as he was in the beginning of the yr (and possibly even on the finish of final season). Even with some accidents and missed video games, the sturdiness it’s taken for Hunter to deal with these snap hundreds again and again — and never lose any of his zip or explosion — is out of this world by itself.
DEFLECTED TO TRAVIS HUNTER @CUBuffsFootball with one other huge protection play 🔒🦬 pic.twitter.com/zAsNDKPLYA
— FOX School Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 16, 2024
When you begin breaking down Hunter on a extra finite stage, he’s bought one of the best ball expertise of any participant in school soccer. He’d have an argument on that entrance within the NFL, too. His capability to trace, find, regulate and catch a soccer within the air in opposition to different individuals is extremely uncommon. We even noticed an occasion Saturday during which he mainly arrange a defensive again to run into him and commit go interference.
His interception was a direct results of working again to the ball and, frankly, having absurdly fast response pace. Not solely did he make it look straightforward to pluck that deflection, however his transition from a squat to a full-tilt dash the opposite manner was seamless. He’s probably the most fluid full-body talent athletes we’ve seen come out of the school ranks in a very long time. Ought to Hunter check in the course of the pre-draft analysis interval (and he has nothing to realize from doing so), the numbers can be dazzling.
Nonetheless, what makes him actually particular is his capability to regulate the tempo of different individuals round him. There’s by no means a greater athlete on the sphere than him — and he is aware of it. He’s taking part in with a particular, particular soccer confidence. — Nick Baumgardner
(High photograph: Andrew Wever / Getty Photographs)