2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Terrell Owens believes that Travis Hunter being omitted as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award does not make any sense. Awarded annually to the top defensive back in college football, this year’s finalists included Texas Longhorns Jahdae Barron, Ohio State Buckeyes Caleb Downs, and Georgia Bulldogs Malaki Starks.
Earlier in the week, it was announced that the star dual-threat receiver and cornerback Hunter would not be among the three finalists and as a result, not be adding his name to the prestigious award that features his current coach Deion Sanders.
What Did Terrell Owens Say About the Hunter Controversy?
In a social media story released to Instagram, Owens reposted a photo by popular Colorado Buffaloes and college football account “theepregameshow”. The post highlighted how ridiculous Hunter’s omission for the award truly was.
The post details how Hunter is a finalist for the Maxwell (best all-around player), Biletnikoff (best wide receiver), Bednarik (best defensive player), Hornung (most versatile player), and Walter Camp (most outstanding player) Awards this season, yet not the one for his actual position.
In response, Owens stated, “MAKE IT MAKE DAMN SENSE!!! I have a lot to say but even when “WE” EARN it, “WE” still don’t get what rightfully deserve.”
Travis Hunter Campaign to This Point
In what has been one of the most extraordinary college football seasons of all time, Hunter has been a force on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. While his offensive stats are phenomenal, Hunter is especially lethal defensively.
Throughout the season, opposing quarterbacks have made an emphasis on avoiding Hunter at all costs during games. This has resulted in many QBs not throwing to Hunter’s side of the field, something that has somewhat limited what may have been an even more noteworthy season for the projected No. 1 overall pick in next season’s NFL Draft.
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Hunter has elite footwork, speed, anticipation, and football IQ, something that has resulted in three interceptions and one forced fumble on the season, despite being purposely avoided in many contests.
In addition, it is surprising that Hunter has been snubbed as a finalist for the top defensive back award (his position), yet is a finalist for an award as the best defensive player as a whole. As a result, many football fans, Owens included, have been left bewildered by the shocking omission of Hunter for the Thorpe Award.
Hunter’s Latest Draft Projection
Pro Football Network recently released an updated top-100 big board, highlighting the best of the best from this college football season. To the surprise of no one, Hunter was the top prospect on the list.
“Travis Hunter is one of one. If we had allowed ourselves to split the player into a cornerback and wide receiver, he would have ranked first and 12th, respectively. He’s the top cornerback in the NFL Draft, and he’s the second-best receiver. His rare ball skills as a wide receiver translate to the other side of the ball, and he’s played with more physicality in 2024 than in 2023.
He won’t play full-time on both sides at the next level. Teams must decide if he’s more valuable to them as a full-time defensive or offensive player. In my opinion, it would be malpractice to take away a potentially generational defensive prospect from that side of the ball entirely. A “best of both worlds” scenario would be playing 80-100% of the team’s defensive snaps while also playing 10-20% of the offensive snaps.”
In PFN’s most recent 2025 NFL Mock Draft, Hunter went first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“The MDS has followed the growing consensus that Travis Hunter is the firm favorite to be drafted first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. In a class where only a handful of players hold true first-round grades and even fewer are viewed as blue-chip caliber talents, Hunter stands out as an elite prospect with rare athleticism.
The Jacksonville Jaguars must improve their secondary, so this would be a home run selection for Jacksonville because Colorado’s two-way player projects best as a cornerback who can occasionally play offensive downs as a sub-package player.”