NEW YORK — Colorado’s Travis Hunter claimed college football’s most-coveted award Saturday night, taking home the Heisman Trophy to cap an unprecedented week in the sport’s annals.

In the span of six days, the Buffaloes’ two-way star won the Lott IMPACT Award (defense), the Paul Hornung Award (versatility), AP Player of the Year, the Bednarik Award (defense), the Biletnikoff Award (receiver), and the Walter Camp Player of the Year honors before adding the Heisman to his collection Saturday evening.

Hunter was also named a first-team Walter Camp All-America selection on offense and defense — a first in the 135-year existence of the oldest All-America team in the nation — as well as being named All-America first-team offense and defense by Sports Illustrated.

He becomes the second Heisman winner in CU history, joining running back Rashaan Salaam, who won the award in 1994.

The final voting had Hunter with 2,231 points, including 552 first-place votes. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was second with 2,017 points (309 first-place ballots), followed by Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel (516 points, 24 first-place ballots) and Miami quarterback Cam Ward (229 points, six first-place ballots).

Hunter’s teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, finished eighth in this year’s voting.

“First of all, I thank God,” Hunter said. “Without him I wouldn’t be here. Your belief takes you a long way.”

Hunter thanked a long list of people, including his fiancee, Leanna Lenee, and mother, Ferrante Edwards. He also told his father, who was unable to attend, “I did it for you,” and he told Colorado’s Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, “You changed my life forever.”

Hunter was a dominant force on both sides of the ball for Coach Prime’s 9-3 Buffs, playing 670 snaps on offense, 686 on defense and 24 on special teams.

At cornerback, he recorded four interceptions and 11 pass breakups while earning a reputation as a true shut-down corner in man-to-man coverage. Pro Football Focus awarded him a  91.1 cover grade, the top mark in the FBS, and he allowed just 22 catches for 205 yards and one touchdown while giving up an FBS-low six first downs.

At wide receiver, he was equally dominant, playing 672 snaps while finishing the regular season with 92 receptions and 14 touchdowns (both Big 12 bests) for 1,152 yards and 53 first downs. He also led the FBS with 21 receptions of 20 yards or longer and had 396 yards after the catch and 185 after contact.

In just two years, he etched his name into the CU record books. His 14 touchdown receptions are a Colorado season record, his 92 catches rank  second and his 1,152 yards rank fifth.

Hunter still has a chance to add to all of those statistics on Dec. 28 when Colorado squares off with Big 12 rival BYU in the Alamo Bowl.

Three years ago, Hunter was the No. 1 ranked high school recruit in the nation. He could have played at the Power Five school of his choosing.

Instead — almost three years to the day of winning the Heisman (Dec. 15, 2021) — he spurned all the major offers and instead chose to sign with Coach Prime at HBCU Jackson State.

His decision shocked the nation but it proved to be one that opened the door to the Heisman. Coach Prime was one of the few coaches who promised him the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball and it was an opportunity Hunter relished.

Hunter played one year at JSU before following Coach Prime to Boulder, where he immediately played a major role in helping produce a dramatic turnaround.

One year after the Buffs were a 1-11 team, Hunter and the Buffs finished 4-8. This season, they finished 9-3, tied for the regular season lead in the Big 12 standings and were ranked in the top 25 in the Associated Press and coaches polls as well as the final College Football Playoffs rankings.

He and Shedeur are both being projected as top-five picks in next spring’s NFL Draft.

Former Denver Bronco great and Hall of Famer John Elway said he believes Hunter could play both ways in the NFL. Earlier this month on a Denver radio show, Elway said, “He’s got the tools to play. He’s a great corner as well as a great wideout. I don’t think there’s any question you get your best athletes on the field. There’s no question, I would entertain him going both ways, and obviously, he’s proven he can do that.”

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Story by Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor for CUBuffs.com. Content courtesy of the University of Colorado at Boulder.