Travis Hunter dominated the college football awards, bringing home a haul of trophies highlighting just how special his 2024 season was.
In a night of historic proportions, Colorado’s Travis Hunter etched his name into college football lore, becoming the first Player in history to win both the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive Player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the best wide receiver.
The accolades didn’t stop there. At the College Football Awards on Thursday, Hunter was also named the recipient of the prestigious Walter Camp Award, honoring him as the Player of the Year. The Associated Press echoed that sentiment, naming him college football’s Player of the Year with 26 of 43 votes. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo finished second and third in the voting, respectively.
college football’s top receiver
TRAVIS HUNTER. 🤲@TravisHunterJr x #HE12MAN pic.twitter.com/aCyjZykLt0
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) December 13, 2024
Despite the night of firsts, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Hunter won the Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s top defensive Player but wasn’t nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award, awarded to the nation’s top defensive back.
Travis Hunter Left Off Jim Thorpe Nominations
In the realm of college football accolades, few decisions have been as perplexing as the one made this season by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and the Jim Thorpe Association. These Oklahoma City-based institutions, responsible for awarding the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award to the nation’s top defensive back, have built a legacy of excellence over nearly four decades. Yet, this year, that legacy faced a glaring misstep.
Travis Hunter, a player whose season defied convention and epitomized greatness, was left out of the final list. While Texas Longhorns cornerback Jahdae Barron, a deserving winner, took home the award, Hunter’s omission as even a finalist raises eyebrows.
Hunter embodies the spirit of the award’s namesake, Jim Thorpe—a man who rejected specialization and redefined versatility. By Pro Football Focus standards, Hunter is unmatched. His coverage grade of 90.9 stands amongst the highest among all college football cornerbacks this season, a testament to his elite performance in a role where a grade above 70 is deemed excellent.
Only five corners with 700 or more snaps this season had overall defensive grades in the 90s.
- Josh Moten, Marshall, 90.6.
- Chandler Rivers, Duke, 90.3.
- DJ Harvey, San Diego State, 90.3.
- Barron, 90.3.
- Hunter, 90.3.
The irony cuts deeper. Despite being overlooked for the Thorpe Award, Hunter still claimed the title of Defensive Player of the Year. This decision, while baffling, doesn’t diminish Hunter’s greatness. It merely underscores the complexity of the recognition process and leaves us to ponder how a transcendent talent could be overlooked.
Hunter Makes History at College Football Awards
In 2024, Travis Hunter redefined what it means to be a college football player. The Colorado star made history as the first Player to win both the Biletnikoff Award, honoring the nation’s best receiver, and the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the top defensive Player. Hunter’s season was a tribute to an era long past—a throwback to icons like Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey, and his own coach, Deion Sanders.
Travis Hunter making HISTORY 🏆
CFB's best defensive player AND wide receiver 🤝 pic.twitter.com/8BdDYVeIdh
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 13, 2024
Hunter’s impact on both sides of the ball was unprecedented. He played over 1,360 snaps—688 on defense and 672 on offense—becoming the only Power Four conference player to log more than 30 snaps on both sides in every game. As a receiver, Hunter broke Colorado’s single-season record with 14 touchdown catches, amassing 92 receptions for 1,152 yards. On defense, he recorded four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and a forced fumble that sealed an overtime win over Baylor.
Hunter’s versatility earned him a second straight Paul Hornung Award, and he’s now the overwhelming favorite (-2000 odds) to win the Heisman Trophy, potentially joining Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado player to claim college football’s highest honor.
The 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) owe their resurgence to Hunter’s brilliance, culminating in an Alamo Bowl berth against No. 17 BYU. Hunter’s legacy? Unforgettable.
