After last season’s 4-8 debacle, Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes are creating wonders this year. With an 8-2 record and two games left, they’re in the hunt for a playoff spot. And Coach Prime’s star players: quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver Travis Hunter are at the center of it all.
In Week 12, Hunter gave a tremendous performance in Saturday’s game against the Utah Utes. A stunning play came in the fourth quarter when Hunter scored the first rushing touchdown of his nearly three years-long college career. With less than three minutes left, he juked in the backfield, found a gap, and broke through to the end zone to extend Colorado’s lead, which culminated in a 49-24 win.
This level of play, though, sparked an NFL legend to bring forward a favorable comparison for the top 2025 NFL Draft prospect.
Travis Hunter Draws Praise for Two-Way Play
On hand to witness the moment was NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who is a longtime friend of Deion Sanders and played alongside him on the Dallas Cowboys from 1995 to 1999. Bursting from excitement and reminiscing back to his playing with Sanders in Dallas, he said:
“Let me tell you something — you go back in Dallas when Deion was with the Cowboys, he had a touchdown just like that. It looked just like that. And he started running back toward me … I was like, ‘Oh sh*t.’ And he’s going just like that. Get it up, I’m telling you. Map them two together.”
Hall of Fame Legend Michael Irvin’s full quote :
🎥 : @DeionSandersJr pic.twitter.com/kp3UrO7VfQ
— We Coming 🦬 (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) November 17, 2024
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of both the plays:
Wow this is legendary 🔥
“You go back to Dallas when Deion was with the Cowboys, He had a Touchdown just like that” – Michael Irvin on Travis Hunter
Here’s the play : pic.twitter.com/TT46JckOqM
— We Coming 🦬 (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) November 17, 2024
The two used to be rivals but became Super Bowl-winning teammates a year later in 1996.
Michael Irvin Lobbied for Hunter’s Coach To Reunite With the Cowboys
Amid a 3-6 record, the Cowboys are looking at their aspirations of the playoffs dwindling for the first time since 2020, and coach Mike McCarthy’s seat could be in jeopardy. While a coaching change is not going to come until the offseason, as confirmed by owner Jerry Jones, speculation abounds that Sanders might be returning to Dallas.
While the rumor mill churns, Irvin has lobbied for his friend, to reunite with the Cowboys. During a pre-show for the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight at AT&T Stadium (home turf of the Cowboys) on Friday, Irvin sneakily said:
“Everybody loves Mike [Tyson], but everybody loves and respects Jake [Paul] also for what he’s done here. To have an ability to not go the normal route and still end up right here. You give him respect. I give him respect like I give my great guy Deion Sanders, who didn’t go the normal route. Who I’m gonna be in Jerry’s ear about later. That’s just something else we’re talking about.”
At the Tyson-Paul fight @michaelirvin88 says he plans to talk to Jerry Jones about former teammate @DeionSanders … 🤔 pic.twitter.com/KMeeKgYafS
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) November 16, 2024
Although Sanders has refuted the speculation and put the rumors to rest by telling FS1’s “Speak” on Tuesday, “Oh Lord, don’t start that. … I love it where I am. I love it where I am,” many are still wondering if he will follow his son, Shedeur Sanders, to the NFL in 2025.