Travis Hunter, who plays as both an offensive and defensive player for Colorado, has openly advocated for himself to secure the Heisman Trophy this year.
During his appearance on Outta Pocket With RGIII, Hunter shared his reasons for being a worthy candidate for the award, highlighting his performance compared to current frontrunner, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
“We haven’t seen a player who excels on both sides of the ball, and I’m going to keep saying that,” stated the 21-year-old defensive back/wide receiver.
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Travis Hunter on why he should win the Heisman over Ashton Jeanty:
“He has 95 carries for 1,000 yards. If I had 95 catches, how much yards would you think I’d have?” 😳pic.twitter.com/s9dzqNLvhp
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 16, 2024
“[Jeanty] has I think 95 carries for 1,000 yards. If I had 95 catches, how many yards do you think I’d have? If I had 95 targets on defense, what do you think I’d have? If I had 95 receptions on offense, how much do you think I’d have?”
Hunter elaborated, “I’m just saying, he’s had double the opportunities on offense compared to me, and I still manage to produce defensive stats… that’s still wild… and we’re only in Week 6, so I’m not going to argue about it.”
It’s worth noting that Hunter backs up his claims; he participates extensively in games, recording a total of 322 snaps on offense and 341 snaps on defense over six games this season.
To underscore his prowess and adaptability, Hunter currently leads the Big 12 conference as a receiver, boasting 49 receptions, 587 yards, and six touchdowns. As a cornerback, he has also tallied 16 tackles, two interceptions, and a crucial game-winning forced fumble during overtime against Baylor.
Pat McAfee: “Travis Hunter is now second-favorite in the odds for the Heisman.”
Deion Sanders: “How do you even fix your mouth to say that?”
Should Colorado’s two-way star be considered the favorite?
🎥 @CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/NIR5aDB7X5
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 12, 2024
Conversely, there is a strong argument in favor of Jeanty, as the running back position in college football hasn’t seen such clear dominance since legends like Reggie Bush or Barry Sanders.
Through six games, Jeanty has posted impressive stats, accumulating 1,248 yards on 126 carries, along with 18 total touchdowns.
Heisman favorite Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty mid-season highlights. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/E6vs8jVO8I
— College Football Alerts (@CFBAlerts_) October 11, 2024
The remainder of the season will be significant, as both athletes are deserving of the Heisman, and compelling cases can be made for either player.
It’s also relevant to highlight that Hunter and Jeanty may face competition from Heisman-worthy quarterbacks, including Dillon Gabriel from Oregon, Cam Ward from Miami, and Jalen Milroe from Alabama.
Current Heisman Trophy odds here at the world’s largest sports book, @CircaSports, in Las Vegas:
Ashton Jeanty: +225
Dillon Gabriel: +350
Cam Ward: +500
Travis Hunter: +500
Jalen Milroe: +1000Jeanty was off the board to open. Then started at +10,000 in August. pic.twitter.com/XN4RlkD4Kn
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) October 16, 2024
Image Source: April Visuals / Shutterstock
