Travis Hunter, star receiver and cornerback for the Colorado Buffaloes, sustained a lacerated liver during the Week 3 game against Colorado State. Head coach Deion Sanders initially stated that the versatile player would be out for three weeks.
After seeing Colorado’s blowout loss to Oregon, Hunter called for his return to the lineup in the Buffaloes’ Week 5 home game against USC but eventually sat out the game and Week 6 due to health concerns.
Will Hunter be on the field in Week 7 against Stanford?
Travis Hunter Injury Update
Update: Hunter indeed was in the starting lineup for the Buffaloes.
Despite Sanders initially saying Hunter would ideally return after the bye week against UCLA in Week 9, there is growing optimism that Hunter will play tonight against the Stanford Cardinal. Sanders had this to say during his weekly press conference:
“There’s a tremendous chance he could play. It goes by how he looks, how he performs in practice. How his wind is. He has to be in shape. I don’t want him to be a liability. I want him to always be a tremendous asset.
“Travis, he came to me yesterday morning, and he said, ‘What more can I do to help us get to the point that we need to get to?’ So I love the team aspect of Travis, 100%. But I hope he can play.”
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Watchlist
The Buffaloes don’t need Hunter to play to win against Stanford, so it’s strange that they might be rushing him back instead of resting him. But if Hunter is 100% healthy, it’s impossible to blame him for wanting to get out on the field.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation throughout the day and update this article as we learn more information.
What Happened to Hunter?
In Week 3, Colorado State safety Henry Blackburn hit Hunter late out of bounds, causing him to crumble to the ground in clear pain. Hunter was then diagnosed with a lacerated liver after being taken to the hospital in the direct aftermath of the hit.
Henry Blackburn was assessed a personal foul after this late hit on Travis Hunter. pic.twitter.com/0avKi1erLU
— ESPN (@espn) September 17, 2023
It was a hit that created controversy and buzz, as Blackburn was only flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct instead of being ejected for targeting. He received death threats from fans in the aftermath of the heated moment, which Sanders condemned immediately.
Hunter also posted a YouTube video that showed him and Blackburn going bowling. The two were in contact after the game, and Hunter wanted to show that he wasn’t angry with him. He also called the injury a “blessing in disguise.”
Hunter as an NFL Draft Prospect
Hunter is eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft. He is currently a sophomore at Colorado and will have another season left before he can throw his name in for the NFL. When he’s ready, what is his draft projection?
Speaking about Hunter’s draft potential after his game against TCU, Sanders called him a No. 1 pick “on both sides of the ball.”
Sanders praised Hunter’s work ethic and willingness to keep playing despite having an incredulous workload on offense and defense.
Hunter followed up his performance against TCU with another heavy workload against Nebraska, playing over 100 snaps yet again. He pulled in three catches for 73 yards and finished with four tackles against the Cornhuskers.
Several prominent two-way players have ended up being first-round selections. While these players haven’t played to quite the same prominence or volume as Hunter has on both sides, Adoree’ Jackson, Jabrill Peppers, Shaq Thompson, Charles Woodson, and Champ Bailey were all first-round picks in their respective drafts.
UCLA linebacker Myles Jack would have likely been a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft were it not for a torn meniscus during his last season.
As it stands right now, it appears Hunter is on track to be picked highly when he is finally eligible in the 2025 NFL Draft.