BY: COLIN BISH,STAFF WRITER
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Five weeks into the college football season. 2024 has more than delivered. We have seen incredible games, unbelievable upsets and amazing early Heisman campaigns.
In recent years, quarterbacks have often been majorly nominated for the Heisman trophy. This season has changed these trends, with two of the top three candidates being non-quarterbacks.
Alabama’s recent losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee knocked quarterback Jalen Milroe down in the odds, giving way to a solidified top three.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward’s stock has skyrocketed following a prolific 52-45 at Louisville. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty powered the Broncos to a 28-7 over Hawaii, totalling 1,248 rushing yards in just six games.
But cornerback Travis Hunter of the Colorado Buffaloes, with his unique dual-threat capability, should be the one to take the award.
Although recruited as a cornerback, the legendary Deion Sanders, head coach at Colorado, has utilized Hunter defensively and offensively.
Hunter is as good as it gets at cornerback. Many already believe he can play the position professionally, and he has delivered this season.
So far, Hunter has accumulated 19 tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended. He also forced a game-winning fumble against Baylor.
Additionally, Hunter has only allowed 7.9 yards per reception this year, compared to 13.8 last year in his first All-American campaign.
Many would compare Hunter’s season to the great Charles Woodson, who won the 1997 Heisman trophy at Michigan as a two-way player. This comparison underscores the weight of Hunter’s achievement.
But Woodson’s dual-threat 1997 season pales in comparison to the season Hunter is playing right now.
In 1997, Woodson caught 11 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. In comparison, Hunter has caught 51 passes for 604 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Hunter’s receiving stats this season eclipsed Woodson’s entire career receiving stats.
This past week has left Hunter out of the Heisman conversation following amazing performances by Jeanty and Ward.
Jeanty’s incredible start has earned him the nickname “Human First Down.” This season, he has averaged 9.9 yards per rush on 126 carries.
Ward delivered another Heisman moment for the Miami Hurricanes, throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns against ACC rival Louisville.
While Jeanty and Ward have played incredibly, I still prefer Hunter to win the award. Despite the great win, Miami seems bound to slip due to their spotty defense and hurt Ward’s chances.
As for Jeanty, eight running backs since 1996 have eclipsed 1000 rushing yards over their first five games. A more recent example being LSU’s Leonard Fournette in 2015, who rushed for 1,022 yards in his team’s first five games.
But with Hunter, his season has never been replicated. Never before have we seen someone play elite defense while subsequently being one of their offense’s most productive players.
Hunter defines the term “game-changer.” His contributions, from catching three touchdowns against North Dakota State to his game-winning forced fumble against Baylor, underscore his significance to the team.
The Buffaloes sorely missed Hunter’s presence in a 31-28 loss to Kansas State, where Hunter left the game following a second-quarter injury. Hunter returned the following week and played limited snaps in a dominant road win over Arizona.
If Hunter can stay healthy and help Colorado potentially win out, he could easily reestablish himself as a top Heisman candidate.
bishcj22@bonaventure.edu
