NEW YORK (AP) — Colorado’s standout two-way player Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, capping off a relentless season of performance by a dynamic player with a unique blend of skills.
The wide receiver and cornerback excelled on both sides of the ball for the renowned and controversial coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes, joining the late running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994 as the only players in the school's history to win the most prestigious individual award in college football.
Hunter received 552 first-place votes and 2,231 points in a comfortable victory. Boise State runner Ashton Jeanty was second with 309 first-place votes and 2,017 points.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel finished third and Miami quarterback Cam Ward ended up fourth in the voting for the 90th Heisman Trophy, presented annually since 1935 to the nation's most outstanding player. This year's ceremony took place at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, where Sanders was in attendance.
This is only the fifth time in this century that a quarterback doesn't win.
What are Travis Hunter's skills?
Hunter also won the Associated Press Player of the Year award this week. He helped drive an impressive turnaround in Colorado, from 4-8 in 2023 when he missed 3 1/2 games due to injuries to 9-3 this year in Sanders' second season.
The Buffaloes, ranked 20th, received their first bowl invitation in four years and will face No. 17 BYU (10-2) in the Alamo Bowl on December 28th.
Hunter has committed to playing, instead of skipping the game to prepare for the NFL draft and prevent any possible injury like many top prospects do. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior from Suwanee, Georgia, plans to skip his senior season in Boulder and is expected to be one of the top five picks in the Draft, perhaps even the number 1 overall.
In the ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. prospect rankings, Hunter is ranked as number 1.
On offense, he had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, plus a rushing touchdown. On defense, he made four interceptions, 32 tackles, deflected 11 passes, and forced a critical fumble that secured an overtime victory against Baylor.