Fueled by candy, music and big performances, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter is in the mix for the Heisman Trophy

DENVER (AP) – Travis Hunter time is nothing but flawless – even in relation to hitting Heisman position.

Colorado’s defensive back signaled a plan suggested by coach Deion Sanders to strike the iconic pose after catching a touchdown. After scoring in the first quarter in a 48-21 win over Central Florida, it seemed too early.

So Hunter he was waiting for the next vital momenthe would definitely be like that. Because she is all the time with him. He adopted a Heisman stance after making a diving interception when he was essentially covering three UCF receivers.

The performance and its pose quickly went viral on social media.

Once long probability of winning the prizeHunter (7-1) odds now trail only QB Jalen Milroe (Alabama) and Cam Ward (Miami). Hunter is a rare player who rarely misses the playoffs, averaging 128.6 snaps per game this season. Just don’t ask him to choose from cornerback or receiver now or at the next level because he just cannot.

“I’m a two-way player by birth,” Hunter said in an interview with The Associated Press after announcing his latest name, image and likeness take care of the audio brand JLab. “None of them give me more satisfaction (catching touchdowns or interceptions). I am happy with everything I do.”

He’s a throwback player in comparison with multi-dimensional talents that got here before him like Hall of Famers Charles Woodson (Michigan) and Champ Bailey (Georgia). Before the Central Florida game, Hunter sat down with Woodson and his coach Deion Sanders – a Pro Football Hall of Famer known for his all-around game – to discuss Hunter’s two-way game skills in games “Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff.”

Woodson to Sanders: “I feel like you and me, we’ve played both sides, but this man really plays both sides of the ball. Tell me, what was it like when you helped raise her?”

“I think it fits perfectly,” Sanders replied. “Because nobody in the country, so far as the coach is concerned, understands what he is trying to attain. So it needs to be someone with that attitude who desires to say, “You know what, do your thing.” I’ve got you.

So far, Hunter has played 93.2% of the plays from the field during the game (plus one other 10 on special teams).

As a receiver, Hunter’s accomplished 46 passes for 561 yards and six scores. He has 26 first downs and only one dropped pass.

He recorded two interceptions in the second half, despite only hitting the goal 19 times in total. It also led to a critical flub on the goal line and secured time beyond regulation win against Baylor.

Before the forced fumble, he offered some advice that played a task in sending the game to OT.

When Baylor called a timeout before the final play of regulation, Hunter suggested a plan to his coaches: put him on the right side and let him draw attention away from other receivers. It worked when LaJohntay Wester got behind the defense and caught a 43-yard Hail Mary pass from Shedeur Sanders with no time left to force OT.

A future as a play interlocutor?

“I have no idea about it,” Hunter said. “I like fishing.”

He thinks he’s quite a catch for some teams in the NFL. As a result of diverse mock drafts, he was placed in the top five, and considered one of them predicted his presence can be #1 and Shedeur Sanders #2.

Lifestyle

“I’ve probably said this to all 32 NFL teams – he’s got some superpowers,” said Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, whose Buffaloes (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) say goodbye every week before hosting No. 20 Kansas State, October 12. “Any team can be very, very lucky to have Travis. They just have to determine where they wish to play it. He shows every week why he could impact the game on each side of the ball.

To maintain full strength, Hunter limits the days on which he goes full throttle during training.

To have energy, he reaches for something that is not exactly a terrific food – sweets. Pretty much anyone, but his sweet tooth is especially Sour Patch Kids and Jolly Ranchers.

His pre-game routine includes putting on JLab headphones and listening to music. He said his fiancée helped prepare his latest project NIL contract with an audio equipment company, which incorporates a campaign called “Playmakers JLab” that features distinguished college players. His favorite playlist is Spotify’s “chill mix”.

Hunter recently tried to trace what number of steps he took in a game while wearing his Apple Watch. Before he could make accurate calculations, the battery died.

To keep him stuffed with energy during the match, he eats applesauce. Yes, applesauce.

However, he knows his limitations on the pitch.

“My body tells me when it’s time to play a game,” Hunter said.

To be a well-rounded player, he watched film of Deion Sanders and his time in the NFL as a dynamic running back, returner and receiver.

“He was a freak athlete,” said Hunter, who accompanied Sanders from Jackson State to Boulder. “He is one of the best at everything he has done.”

Sanders got Colorado back on the right track with three straight wins, and the Buffaloes silenced a few of their doubters.

“I’m not worried about showing people how good we can be,” Hunter said. “I just want to win.”