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 massive board — two spots up from Hunter’s preseason slot. Brugler wrote: “Hunter is the perfect draft-eligible participant within the nation, and I don’t assume that can change between now and April. Does he challenge greatest at huge receiver? Cornerback? Each? These questions might 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 cross 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 file his third INT of the 12 months. 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 doable Massive 12 title recreation and School Soccer Playoff appearances forward.
Hunter did have a uncommon slip-up in protection. Within the third quarter, Utah huge receiver Dorian Singer blew previous Hunter, who was taking part in man protection with no security assist excessive, and hauled in a phenomenal 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 laborious to indicate off both ability 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, take into account 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 desires to give attention to one facet of the ball on the subsequent degree. It’ll doubtless be as a lot concerning the wants of his new staff — the match, scheme, every part else — as it is going to Hunter truly declaring himself solely a nook or WR.
He’s ok to play within the league now, simply as he was at first of the 12 months (and perhaps 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 masses time 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 massive protection play 🔒🦬 pic.twitter.com/zAsNDKPLYA
— FOX School Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 16, 2024
For those who begin breaking down Hunter on a extra finite degree, he’s received the perfect ball expertise of any participant in school soccer. He’d have an argument on that entrance within the NFL, too. His potential to trace, find, regulate and catch a soccer within the air towards different folks is extremely uncommon. We even noticed an occasion Saturday through which he principally arrange a defensive again to run into him and commit cross 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 simple to pluck that deflection, however his transition from a squat to a full-tilt dash the opposite means was seamless. He’s one of the vital fluid full-body ability athletes we’ve seen come out of the faculty ranks in a very long time. Ought to Hunter check in the course of the pre-draft analysis interval (and he has nothing to achieve from doing so), the numbers might be dazzling.
Nevertheless, what makes him really particular is his potential to manage the tempo of different folks round him. There’s by no means a greater athlete on the sector 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 Pictures)
