Travis Hunter is one step closer to being the best DB in the country
Nov 1, 2023, 11:48 AM | Updated: 5:35 pm
Travis Hunter is one step closer to capturing the same prestigious hardware that his legendary coach once earned, as the two-way star of the Colorado Buffaloes was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award after Week 8 of the college slate.
Hunter has been the Buffs best player when healthy, currently third in total receiving yards and tied for first in interceptions, despite playing three fewer games than his teammates. The sophomore transfer from Jackson State’s offense has been game-breaking for CU but it’s his defense that will make him a high first-round NFL Draft pick.
Hunter is listed as a semifinalist alongside:
- Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
- Jahdae Barron, Texas
- Cole Bishop, Utah
- Denzel Burke, Ohio State
- Cooper DeJean, Iowa
- Renardo Green, Florida State
- Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
- Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
- Jakob Robinson, BYU
- Willie Roberts, Louisiana Tech
- Jaylin Simpson, Auburn
- Malaki Starks, Georgia
- TJ Tampa, Iowa State
- Trey Taylor, Air Force
No tricks here, only the treat of revealing our #ThorpeAward Semifinalists 🏆👏 After 8 hard-fought weeks, congrats to our 15 best DBs in the country! pic.twitter.com/BaD7QZ8us5
— Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (@jimthorpeaward) October 31, 2023
Sanders won the Jim Thorpe the third year it was offered in 1988. Colorado has two past winners in 1992’s Deon Figures and 1994’s Chris Hudson.
The award is especially fitting for Sanders and possibly Hunter to win given who Thorpe was. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, he was the first Native American to win an Olympic medal, winning one in classic pentathlon and the other in decathlon at the 1912 games. He’s also in the Pro Football and College Football Hall of Fames, plus he played half a decade of MLB. A story of course similar to the athletic prowess of Sanders. Like Hunter now, 100 years before him, Thorpe played both ways starring at defensive back and running back for Carlisle, he also kicked and punted too.
Hunter’s CU Buffs have four games left in their season, with three potential matchups against College Football Playoff-ranked teams.
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