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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Andrew Joseph

Deion Sanders offered a classy defense for Colorado State’s Henry Blackburn after Travis Hunter hit

Deion Sanders Henry Blackburn Travis Hunter Colorado (Organization) Colorado State Coach Prime (Organization)

Deion Sanders has the Colorado Buffaloes off to an impressive 3-0 start, but Saturday’s overtime win against in-state rival Colorado State came at a cost.

Two-way star Travis Hunter suffered a lacerated liver on a late hit from the Rams’ Henry Blackburn, and the injury is expected to keep Hunter out for several weeks. And while the hit did come late (and probably should have been targeting), Sanders wanted to make it clear that he forgave Blackburn for the hit. This came after it was reported that Blackburn received a death threat.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sanders defended Blackburn and wanted to make it clear that no player should ever receive death threats over a game.

Sanders said:

“Henry Blackburn is a good player who played a phenomenal game. He made a tremendous hit on Travis on the sideline. You could call it dirty, you could call it he was just playing the game of football. But whatever it was, it does constitute that he should be receiving death threats. This is still a young man trying to make it in life. A guy who is trying to live his dream and hopefully graduate with honors or degree, committed to excellence and go to the NFL. He does not deserve a death threat over a game.

“At the end of the day, this is a game. Someone must win, someone must lose. Everybody continues their life the next day. It’s very unfortunate, I’m saddened if there’s any of our fans that’s on the other side of those threats. I would hope and pray not. But that kid was just playing the best of his ability, and he made a mistake.

“So I forgive him. CU, our team forgives him. Travis has — he’s forgiven him. Let’s move on. But that kid does not deserve that.”

Hunter also said during a live stream that he didn’t have a problem with Blackburn’s hit, saying it happens in football.

Fans appreciated that comments from Sanders as the threats really need to stop.

This was how Twitter reacted

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