Strike 1: The amazing talents of Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter can’t be denied. He’s one of a kind, demonstrating extraordinary skills as a pass catcher and a defensive back. He’s made clutch plays for CU on both sides of the ball. To start this season, Hunter strung together four consecutive 100-yard receiving games, as well as creating a game-saving fumble in the overtime win against Baylor.
A healthy Hunter will likely be a top 10 NFL draft pick. With all this on his resumé, Hunter has become a Heisman Trophy candidate and the darling of the CU media, many of whom have already proclaimed him most worthy of winning the trophy.
However, Hunter isn’t the most outstanding player on his own team. That designation belongs to Shedeur Sanders.
It’s really a simple question if you think about it: Who could the Buffs least afford to be without? Hunter has already missed the second half of two straight games, including the near comeback against Kansas State and the win over Arizona. Over the last three games, he’s averaging less than 45 receiving yards per game and five receptions per.
Meanwhile, Shedeur has been the key cog for CU’s resurgence.
Ask yourself this: If Shedeur got injured, what would happen to Colorado? You’re right. It wouldn’t be pretty. Without their star QB, CU probably wouldn’t have beaten North Dakota State and maybe not CSU. And forget about beating Baylor in that miracle comeback. Even last year, when Hunter was hurt against CSU, it was Shedeur’s magic that sent Ram fans home disappointed.
This year’s Buffs have several outstanding pass catchers. Without Shedeur under center, none would see much of the football. Quite frankly, the Buffs would be fortunate to have more than two wins on the season after seven games.
Which brings us to the criteria for the Heisman Trophy, for which Hunter is a leading candidate and Shedeur isn’t. The award is supposed to go to “The Most Outstanding Player” in America. However, in reality, it almost always goes to the quarterback of one of the highest achieving teams in the country. Statistics matter. A lot. But so does winning. So does being “the guy” in a big game or championship winning moment.
And that’s not wrong. All those things are part of being the “Most Outstanding.” (It also helps a lot if you’re playing east of the Mississippi River and put up amazing statistics.) Most folks readily acknowledge that QB is the most important position on any football team. For CU this season, you can multiply that by 10.
Sometimes folks need to be reminded that a QB has the ball in his hands every play. He’s more integral to his team’s success than the head coach is, and far more than any single wide receiver or defensive back. When we’re talking about the Most Outstanding Player in college football, we’re talking about the guy who is the most important cog in a highly successful machine.
That’s not Travis Hunter.
Since 2010, there have only been two non-QB’s to win the award, and one came in the shortened COVID season of 2020, when most teams played only a few games. The other was Alabama running back Derrick Henry, who’s Heisman should have gone to Stanford’s do-everything Christian McCaffrey that year anyway.
Sure, it’s possible for a wide receiver or running back with eye-popping stats to win it. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty has a great shot this year if he breaks Barry Sanders’ all-time rushing record AND his team makes the College Football Playoff. The rest of the main contenders are all QB’s and in contention for a CFP spot.
Hunter – if he can and get and stay fully healthy – will get some support from voters who want to be rebellious. Being on the field for 120 snaps in a single game is amazing, even if it’s somewhat misguided. But just being on the field and watching the opponent throw the ball to the other side of the field (out of respect, of course) isn’t a stat that registers with the vast majority of voters any more than five receptions for 45 yards per game will.
Those who watch CU football closely know that the Buffs Most Outstanding Player is the guy getting Hunter – and the other speedy CU receivers – the football, oftentimes in very difficult situations. The credit for CU’s improvement in the win-loss column, (who just happens to have sensational stats too) goes to Shedeur Sanders.
