The Heisman Trophy embodies excellence in college football, and Colorado Buffaloes’ Travis Hunter exemplified this on Saturday night by claiming the prestigious 2024 award.
The following morning, legendary Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, who himself won the Heisman and played both offense and defense, praised Hunter’s remarkable achievements on “FOX NFL Kickoff.”
Woodson expressed his admiration, stating, “Seeing you on that stage last night brought me immense joy because you embody what the Heisman Trophy represents. It’s not just about the standout running backs or quarterbacks; it’s about the best player overall, and you were that. Coach Prime [Deion Sanders], a shout-out to you for showcasing Travis Hunter’s greatness this season, allowing him to shine on both offense and defense. Every game, you made impactful plays that left us in awe. Congratulations on becoming the 89th Heisman Trophy winner.”
He added a lighthearted note about future promotional endeavors, saying, “And guess what? Those Heisman commercials featuring us on defense against all those offensive players will be a blast. The Heisman House is going to be electric. Congratulations again!”
This season, Hunter has achieved impressive statistics, with 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the Big 12 in both categories. Notably, he surpassed 100 receiving yards in seven games.
On the defensive side, Hunter has recorded four interceptions, a conference-leading 11 passes defended, and 32 combined tackles, earning him the title of Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He has already declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after this season but is set to compete with the No. 23 Buffaloes in the Alamo Bowl against the No. 17 BYU Cougars on December 28.
In terms of the upcoming draft, FOX Sports NFL Insider Peter Schrager predicts that Hunter is likely to be a “top-five pick,” with NFL teams showing preference for him as a primary cornerback who can also play wide receiver.
Should the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, both currently at the bottom of the NFL standings with a 2-11 record, choose quarterbacks, teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, and New England Patriots could be in the running for Hunter. In his latest mock draft, FOX Sports NFL Draft Analyst Rob Rang has Hunter going No. 1 to the Giants.
[Rang: 2025 NFL mock draft: Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders to go 1-2?]
During his time at Michigan from 1995 to 1997, Woodson was a standout defensive back who also contributed as a wide receiver, running back, and punt returner. In 1997, he made his mark with seven interceptions, 231 receiving yards, and a punt return for a touchdown, ultimately earning the Heisman Trophy.
Woodson was selected by the Oakland Raiders as the No. 4 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. He went on to become a three-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler as a cornerback, later returning punts in his career and winning Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers.
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