Colorado star Travis Hunter deemed a college football unicorn ahead of 2024 Heisman Trophy ceremony in NYC | Sporting News

Three days before the Heisman Trophy finalists are set to hear their names called as college football’s best overall player, one analyst tabbed multi-positional star Travis Hunter as his pick for the award.

CBS Sports’ Aaron Taylor sang high praise for Hunter during “Inside College Football.” 

The wide receiver/cornerback combo stands out to Taylor, even though Hunter and the Colorado Buffaloes failed to reach the Big 12 title game, finishing the regular season 9-3 and fourth in the Big 12 in Deion Sanders’ best year of his tenure thus far.

“We haven’t seen a player like this in the modern era… You add (those snaps) up over the course of the season, this young man performed at a high level on both sides of the football for 17-18 games,” Taylor said.

Hunter’s stat line is even more impressive on paper: Offensively, Hunter caught 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 15 touchdowns, while he was equally as dominant on defense: 32 tackles, four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.

Sanders has repeatedly said he loves coaching Hunter and being part of his journey. He went as far as to give Hunter his Jim Thorpe Award after not being selected as a finalist.

“How? How is Travis Hunter snubbed by the Jim Thorpe Award?” Sanders told reporters Nov. 26 when the finalists had been revealed earlier that week. “You can have my award. You can have it back. Matter of fact, I’m gonna give him mine. I ain’t using it, just sitting up there collecting dust.”

Hunter won his second Paul Hornung Award Wednesday, honoring him as college football’s most versatile player.

He’ll look to add the Heisman Trophy to his long list of accomplishments. Miami’s Cam Ward, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel are the other eligible finalists for college football’s most decorated honor.

The Buffaloes cap off their season with a bowl game against BYU in the Alamo Bowl Dec. 28. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.