Colorado University is the talk of the college football world for a good reason for the first time in decades. Not since the early 1990s, when the program was a national title contender, has there been this much excitement in Boulder.
Part of that has to do with the shift happening on the football field. A major part of that shift has to do with a young man by the name of Travis Hunter. You will be hearing that name a lot over the course of the 2023 season, so it’s time to get more familiar with him and his place in Colorado.
Bet on Colorado with this betting guide for the 2023 football season.
The Recent Past at Colorado
It’s been four years since the Buffs were last ranked, and that was in the abbreviated 2020 COVID season. They’ve been ranked just two other times since 2005. Their lone winning season since Gary Barnett’s final season in 2005 came in 2016, a 10-4 record capped off by an Alamo Bowl loss.
To say that things have been abysmal in Colorado would be an understatement. This was once a perennial national title contender, winning the 1990 championship. Since then, there have been some major coaching changes and moderate success at best. But all of that appears to be changing.
Recruiting Profile
Travis Hunter had every recruiting accolade a prospect could have come out of college. He was a consensus five-star prospect, something just a handful of prospects managed to achieve across all of the major recruiting sites.
ESPN had him as the top corner in his class, second in the ESPN Top 300. He was the top prospect overall to 247sports. The same goes for Rivals. Anywhere you looked, you would find Travis Hunter at or near the very top of just about every recruiting list.
OH MY TRAVIS HUNTER 🤯😱
He is HIM. 😤
Buffs take over! #CUvsTCU #TravisHunter pic.twitter.com/a97kyT9Shh
— The Sports Forum (@DenverForum) September 2, 2023
Jackson State and Coach Prime
Due to Hunter’s recruiting profile, it came as a major shock when he spurned programs like Alabama, Ohio State, and Florida State to go to the historically black, Division I FCS Jackson State. It was the kind of recruiting victory that FCS schools just didn’t have.
The reason for the major upset commitment is solely because of a former Hall of Fame player turned coach. Deion Sanders, aka Prime Time, aka Coach Prime, sold Hunter on what could be achieved at Jackson State. Hunter and Sanders helped to transform the program overnight, turning it into a dominant force in FCS.
But a series of disagreements with the university led Coach Prime to Boulder. With the goal of returning this once proud program to national glory, Sanders knew he couldn’t do it alone. With more than 50 portal transfers heading to Boulder, Hunter would be the most important piece to follow.
Deion Sanders: “There’s a few more Travis Hunters out there that I’m gonna recruit”
Michael Irvin’s reaction got me crying 😭 pic.twitter.com/zd97w3xN8u
— 📌 (@darwinsburner) September 4, 2023
Off to a Hot Start
Heading into the 2023 NCAA season, no one really knew what to expect from Sanders, Hunter, and Colorado. Many pundits declared that it would be a minor miracle if Sanders could drag a bowl game appearance out of this group.
Sure, the more than 50 transfers included some serious Division I talent from places like Alabama, Auburn, and Florida State. But there was simply no way that Sanders would be able to produce real results early on.
Though we are just two weeks into the season, it is hard not to be excited. The Buffs are 2-0, having defeated College Football Playoff runner-up TCU in a shocking Week 1 upset and rival Nebraska in Week 2. A major reason for both has been the play of Hunter.
Hunter plays on both sides of the ball, something that used to be fairly common but has largely gone away. Playing at corner and receiver, he is a superior athlete who delivers whenever he is on the field. He has 7 tackles, 2 passes defended, and a highlight-reel interception to his name. If that weren’t enough, he has 14 catches for 192 yards as a receiver.
Hunter has been involved in more major plays than can be described. He has been a vital part of the early success experienced by Colorado and will continue to be a focal point for the Buffs moving forward.
Travis Hunter snatching ankles 😮💨 (via @CFBONFOX)
— Overtime (@overtime) September 9, 2023
What Does the Future Hold?
The real impact of what Hunter is achieving can’t be felt yet. By helping Coach Prime succeed, by winning games for Colorado, Hunter is bringing unprecedented attention to the program. Other premier athletes can see what Sanders can do with the kind of elite talent that Hunter is.
No one is expecting a College Football Playoff appearance or even a serious run at the Pac-12 title. But if Hunter and Coach Prime can continue to turn heads, it will be the most successful season of Colorado football in some time. And who knows? If Hunter can continue to shine and the Buffs keep winning, we may hear the first bit of Heisman talk in Boulder since the early 1990s.
If you want to bet on the Buffaloes this college season check out the best Colorado sportsbook & promos here.
