As DB/WR, Buffs’ Hunter Could Put Himself In Heisman Conversation

BOULDER — Colorado’s Travis Hunter has made it clear that winning a  Heisman Trophy is one of his collegiate goals.

Of course, that is the aim of plenty of college players — but Hunter just might be putting himself in position to attract his share of attention in that realm. If he can follow through with what he’s trying to build this spring in the Buffaloes’ workouts, he could legitimately put his name in the mix next fall.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Hunter came out of high school in Georgia two years ago not only as the nation’s consensus top-rated defensive back but also as some recruiting services’ top-rated overall prospect.

He then shocked the college football world by electing to cast his lot with Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders at Jackson State instead of accepting one of the multitude of offers he received from some of the nation’s elite Power Five programs.

Now, he has followed Coach Prime to Colorado. While he will almost certainly be a starting cornerback next fall when the Buffs open their season, he’s also aiming to be a big contributor at wide receiver. He has taken the majority of his practice reps on offense this spring.

“Right now the focus is on learning the offensive playbook because defense really comes natural to me,” Hunter said after Thursday’s practice, the Buffs’ seventh of the spring. “It’s just easier for me to go and play defense and learn the playbook faster on offense … Once I learn the  playbook, then I go back to defense, learn the defense playbook and then go both ways, no matter what.”

While Hunter’s goal may be a Heisman, the fact of the matter is that pure defensive players don’t win the award. In fact, only once in the era of platoon football — since 1961 — has a defensive player collected the coveted trophy. Even that player, Michigan’s Charles Woodson, won the honor in 1997 because he managed to play wide receiver along with his full-time role as a cornerback for the Wolverines.

Woodson had an impact on both sides of the ball for Michigan. He finished his junior season with seven interceptions, and he added 11 pass receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three rushes for 15 yards and a score, completed one pass, and had 33 punt returns for 283 yards and a touchdown.

That versatility earned him the Heisman as he finished ahead of Tennessee…