Travis Hunter’s Heisman moments assist Colorado down Utah

Within the closing seconds of the primary quarter in Saturday’s sport between Colorado and Utah, Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter peeled off his receiver in protection, snared an interception off a deflection, returned it deep into Utah territory, and bought up and did a Heisman pose in celebration. It was a notable second in a Heisman-worthy season full of them from the Colorado standout.

However it was what got here later within the first half that may have cemented his standing as a Heisman Trophy winner.

With Colorado driving simply earlier than halftime, the Buffaloes confronted a 4th-and-8 state of affairs inside Utah territory. Head coach Deion Sanders stored his offense on the sphere, and quarterback Shedeur Sanders seemed in Hunter’s route on a nook route between a pair of Utah defenders.

Roughly 99 instances out of 100, this move is damaged up.

Hunter, nonetheless, makes the inconceivable … attainable:

The Colorado star hung within the air lengthy sufficient to beat each defenders to the soccer, hanging on by successful that catapulted him greater, earlier than crashing down shoulders-first with the reception.

Imagine it or not, Hunter was not completed with Heisman moments in opposition to Utah.

Late within the sport, with Colorado holding a giant lead, the offense dialed up a trick play, with Hunter getting the soccer on a reverse. Utah’s protection, nonetheless, was prepared. Hunter was pinned almost 15 yards behind the road of scrimmage, staring catastrophe within the face:

You most likely know the way this ends.

One way or the other, a way, Hunter slices by the Utah protection, turning near-disaster into one other emphatic assertion in his Heisman marketing campaign:

All advised, Hunter had 5 receptions for 55 yards, a 5-yard speeding landing, and an interception in opposition to the Utes. He did this whereas taking part in a staggering 132 snaps, and in response to OptaSTATS, he turned the primary participant in both the NFL or the FBS to have 50 receiving yards, a speeding landing, and an interception in the identical sport previously 24 years. The final participant to perform that feat? Champ Bailey within the NFL, in a sport for Washington in opposition to Arizona on Dec. 24, 2000.

Following the sport, Hunter’s coach made his personal distinctive Heisman pitch:

Greater than the rest, Hunter’s play tells the story.

A narrative full of Heisman-worthy moments.