Travis Hunter has been Coach Prime’s treasured recruit since 2022, when Deion Sanders brought him in at Jackson State. The dual-threat athlete then followed Sanders to Boulder when Sanders took on the role of the Colorado Buffaloes head coach in 2023. Before college, Hunter was the top high school prospect, and now, after his Heisman win, he’s become college football’s top player.
With the junior leaving for the NFL next season, Sanders has been rooting for his wide receiver/cornerback to win the Heisman ever since his name was first mentioned in the race.
Deion Sanders’ Response for Travis Hunter’s Heisman Win
Hunter was obviously ecstatic to hear his name called, but his coach was just as elated, tweeting after the win:
“TRAVIS HUNTER!”
TRAVIS HUNTER!
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) December 14, 2024
Hunter was the favorite to win the award, with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty behind him. The other two finalists were quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) and Cam Ward (Miami). Even though the coveted award usually goes to quarterbacks, Gabriel (24 first-place votes) and Ward (six) finished third and fourth in voting, respectively.
Hunter received 552 first-place votes, amounting to 2,231 total points. There was a 214-point margin between him and Jeanty (2,017 points with 309 first-place votes), the smallest difference in 15 years.
As the college season wound down and the race came down to Hunter and Jeanty, the former’s coaches and teammates often spoke in his regard. After the Week 14 win over Oklahoma State, in which the dual-threat had an interception and three touchdown receptions, Coach Prime said in the postgame presser:
“You’ve never seen it before (talking of Hunter’s two-way ability). He’s the best player in college football. … Travis Hunter proved today, and he proved every week that he’s the best player in college football.
“You’ve got to give me another definition of the award. The award is to go to who? The best quarterback? I don’t know how you could be voted in every category in some sort. I think he’s up for best offensive player, best defensive player, best receiver. Who else has done that ever?”
Hunter did a bit of everything around the field this season, recording 1,152 total receiving yards with 92 receptions and 14 touchdowns on offense, with 31 total tackles and 11 passes defensed. The only other Colorado player to win the Heisman Trophy was running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994.