Colorado stars Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders take Big 12 player of year honors

As the Colorado football team awaits its bowl destination, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are piling up awards.

On Thursday, Hunter was named the Big 12 defensive player of the year, while Sanders was named the Big 12 offensive player of the year, giving the 23rd-ranked Buffaloes (9-3, 7-2 Big 12; No. 20 AP) a sweep of the top two honors in the conference.

The Big 12 honors were voted on by league coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own players.

This is the third time in CU history that the Buffs have had the conference offensive and defensive players of the year in the same season. In 1989, Darian Hagan (offense) and Alfred Williams (defense) were honored by the Big Eight; and in 1990, Eric Bieniemy (offense) and Williams (defense) were honored by the Big Eight.

Sanders (quarterback), Hunter (cornerback and receiver) and BJ Green II (defensive line) all received first-team all-conference honors for the Buffs. Green was named the Big 12’s defensive newcomer of the year.

Hunter, widely considered the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, was the preseason choice for Big 12 defensive player of the year and he certainly didn’t disappoint. He led the Big 12 in passes defended with 15 (four interceptions, 11 passes broken up), despite rarely being targeted in coverage. He also has 31 tackles and had a game-sealing forced fumble in an overtime victory against Baylor.

Hunter is just the seventh conference defensive player of the year from CU and only the second in the last 32 years (Jordan Dizon, Big 12 in 2007).

The only full-time two-way player in college football, Hunter also received honorable mention for offensive player of the year honors. He leads the Big 12 in receptions (92) and receiving touchdowns (14) and is second in receiving yards (1,152).

Sanders is the first CU quarterback to be named first-team all-conference since Koy Detmer in 1996. A senior, Sanders leads the Big 12 in completion percentage (74.2%), passing yards (3,926), touchdown passes (35) and quarterback rating (168.79). He’s also the only quarterback in the country who ranks top five nationally in those four categories.

Sanders is the seventh conference offensive player of the year from CU and the second in the last five seasons, joining running back Jarek Broussard (Pac-12, 2020).

A transfer from Arizona State, Green led the Buffs and is tied for second in the Big 12 with 7.5 sacks. He’s also third in the conference with a team-high 12 tackles for loss. He also has 30 tackles, a team-high 12 QB hurries and two forced fumbles, as well as a blocked kick.

Green is the first Buff to receive conference newcomer of the year honors since Dizon in 2004 in the Big 12.

Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green earned second-team honors, after posting 82 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.

Eight other Buffs received honorable mention at the their positions: defensive backs Preston Hodge, DJ McKinney and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig; defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo; offensive lineman Jordan Seaton; receiver LaJohntay Wester; kicker Alejandro Mata; and punter Mark Vassett.

In addition, defensive end Taje McCoy received honorable mention for defensive freshman of the year; Nwankwo honorable mention for defensive lineman of the year; Seaton honorable mention for offensive freshman of the year; and Wester received honorable mention for offensive newcomer of the year.

While CU took home the top player honors, Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham was named the Big 12 coach of the year. The 15th-ranked Sun Devils (10-2, 7-2) were projected to finish last in the conference, but will play Iowa State in the Big 12 title game on Saturday.

BYU kicker Will Ferrin and Iowa State returner Jaylin Noel were named the co-special teams players of the year.

ASU receiver Jordyn Tyson, a transfer from CU, was named the offensive newcomer of the year, and Sun Devils QB Sam Leavitt was the offensive freshman of the year.

West Virginia’s Josiah Trotter is the defensive freshman of the year and his teammate, Wyatt Milum, is the offensive lineman of the year. Kansas State’s Brendan Mott was named the defensive lineman of the year.

Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks and Kansas QB Jalon Daniels were named the scholar-athletes of the year.

Notable

On Thursday, Sanders was named as one of 10 finalists for the Manning Award, which honors the top quarterback in the country. It is the only one of the three main quarterback awards to take bowl games into consideration, and the winner will be announced in January. … According to 247Sports, CU defensive lineman Rayyan Buell is entering the transfer portal. A transfer from Ohio this year, Buell was limited to four games this year because of injury and finished with three tackles and a QB hurry.

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