Collecting trophies: CU Buffs’ Travis Hunter claims Bednarik, Biletnikoff awards

Travis Hunter has spent this season doing things that nobody else in modern college football has done.

On Thursday night, he was honored like nobody else before him.

During the ESPN College Football Awards show, the Colorado Buffaloes’ star took home the Chuck Bednarik Award, one of the three major defensive player of the year honors; as well as the Biletnikoff Award as the most outstanding receiver in the country.

Hunter is the first player in major college football history to win national awards for offense and defense, which is why he is also the odds-on favorite to win the most coveted award in the sport, the Heisman Trophy. He is one of four finalists for the Heisman, which will be presented on Saturday in New York City.

It was also announced on Thursday night that Hunter has been named as the Walter Camp national player of the year, becoming the second Buff to win that award, joining Rashaan Salaam in 1994.

A star cornerback and receiver for the 20th-ranked Buffs (9-3, 7-2; No. 23 CFP), Hunter is the only player in the country starting and playing the majority of snaps on both sides of the ball.

On offense, he ranks second nationally in receiving touchdowns (14), fifth in receptions (92) and sixth in receiving yards (1,152). Other Biletnikoff finalists were Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona and Nick Nash from San Jose State.

“It means a lot,” he said during ESPN’s show of taking the Biletnikoff. “I dreamed of this. I can tell you I put my goals on my front door because I go out my front door every morning at five o’clock. I touch that piece of paper with my goals every morning, and I’m excited to get to hold this trophy and have this award.”

Hunter is the first player from CU to win the Biletnikoff, which has been presented every year since 1994. The only other finalist from CU was Rae Carruth in 1996.

He is also the Buffaloes’ first-ever winner of the Bednarik Award, which has been presented every year since 1995. CU had never had a finalist before Hunter.

“It means a lot to me,” Hunter said on ESPN of winning the Bednarik. “I came in working from day one, from going to an HBCU (Jackson State) to now I’ve been at Colorado. I’m excited to have this award. A lot of people know where I stand out on defense.”

Considered a lock-down cornerback, Hunter tied for fifth nationally with 15 passes defended (11 breakups, four interceptions) despite rarely being targeted. According to Pro Football Focus, he was targeted just 38 times all season, giving up 22 catches. He allowed just one touchdown and six first downs.

“I like to play man-to-man most of the time,” he said. “My coaches, we go into the game knowing I’m going to play man most of the time. There’s only, probably, like third-and-long where we mix it up a little bit, but most of the time I already know I’m playing man, so I’m just ready.”

Hunter was chosen over Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Ohio State’s Caleb Downs for the Bednarik Award.

Although surprisingly not among the three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the top defensive back in the country, Hunter won two of the three major defensive player of the year awards.

In addition to the Bednarik Award, Hunter was presented with the Lott Impact Trophy on Monday. He was not a finalist for the other defensive player of the year award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which went to South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard earlier this week.

Hunter is the second player in the past four years to win at least two of the three defensive player of the year awards (Alabama’s Will Anderson won all three in 2022).

Earlier this week, Hunter also won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in the country. He is the first two-time winner in the 15-year history of the Hornung Award.

“This kid is not only an unbelievable athlete, but an unbelievable person,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said on ESPN. “He’s like my fourth son. I love him to life. He’s everything a coach would ever want in a player as a leader, as a dog. He checks all boxes. You’re rambling off all these awards that he’s winning, and I’m so happy and I’m so elated, and I’m so thankful because he deserves every last one of them.”

Hunter was one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award (player of the year) on Thursday, but that honor went to Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. This is the 12th time since 2000 that the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards went to different players.

CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders was one of three finalists Thursday for the Davey O’Brien Award, presented to the top quarterback, but that honor went to his good friend, Cam Ward of Miami.

The O’Brien is one of three quarterback of the year awards. Sanders won one of them, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, last week. The third is the Manning Award, which will be announced in January.

Also on Thursday, Hunter was named the Associated Press national player of the year, becoming the first CU player to win that honor.

Thursday’s award winners:

Maxwell Award (player of the year): Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Walter Camp Award (player of the year): Travis Hunter, Colorado

Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year): Travis Hunter, Colorado

Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player of the year): Kyle Kennard, South Carolina

Davey O’Brien Award (best quarterback): Cam Ward, Miami

Doak Walker Award (premier running back): Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver): Travis Hunter, Colorado

John Mackey Award (outstanding tight end): Tyler Warren, Penn State

Rimington Trophy (top center): Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State

Outland Trophy (most outstanding interior lineman): Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back): Jahdae Barron, Texas

Lou Groza Award (outstanding placekicker): Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana

Ray Guy Award (punter of the year): Eddie Czaplicki, USC

Burlsworth Trophy (most outstanding player who began career as walk-on): Bryce Boettcher, Oregon

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