Shedeur Sanders quarterbacks an uber-popular ranked program having a successful season while placing in the top 10 of every major passing statistic, that is normally a recipe to chase a Heisman Trophy but the leader of the Colorado Buffaloes is throwing his support behind teammate Travis Hunter.
While Sanders may be more in line with the usual winner of the honor, what his teammate is doing is like nothing we have seen in modern power football. Playing both sides of the ball, Hunter was on the field for 132 snaps on Saturday—earning a Big 12 Player of the Week award for his offensive output. In doing so, he became the first player in conference history to win the offensive version of the award and the defensive one, which he claimed back in Week 3. Against Cincinnati, Hunter set a career-high with 153 yards receiving on nine catches, including two touchdowns. He was one of only three players in FBS to average 17 or more yards per reception with at least eight catches in Week 9. Hunter currently ranks in the top 10 nationally in receptions (60,) yards (757) and touchdowns (8.) All of that production through eight games is already more than what Hunter did on offense a season ago. Meanwhile, Hunter’s seven passes defended on defense paces the Big 12 while his two interceptions on defense ties him for top ten in the conference for that mark.
Sanders, like Cam Ward and Dillon Gabriel will be in the race until the very end. Not only because of his play but because only four players who weren’t quarterbacks have won the award since 2000. Where Hunter differs from the norm is that he isn’t reliant on a scheme or a gunslinger since he plays on both sides of the ball. That means Hunter isn’t necessarily reliant on Sanders success, unlike most pass-catchers to their quarterback…