Why Travis Hunter stands out as a 'rare talent' in college football

One of the most elusive talents in team sports is the ability to influence a game in various ways.

Athletes are rarely able to affect games both offensively and defensively in equal measure, and those who are - known as two-way players - become some of the most sought-after stars in their respective fields.

Travis Hunter.

The Associated Press

The phrase "two-way player" has become commonplace in many sports, referring to greats such as basketball's Giannis Antetokounmpo and baseball's Shohei Ohtani, but it is extremely rare in football.

Only a few athletes have played several positions on the football field, including Devin Hester, Deion Sanders, and Julian Edelman. Travis Hunter is the latest to demonstrate that one can thrive at both offense and defense. During a standout collegiate season, the freshly minted Heisman Trophy winner has excelled on both sides of the ball for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Hunter, who played wide receiver and cornerback, had a historic year that resulted in his becoming one of just a handful players to win the Heisman Trophy.

The Buffaloes standout has been a revelation on both sides of the ball throughout his time in Colorado, and this season he has elevated his game to new heights.

"There have been guys who have played both sides, though honestly not many that have done it full-time, but not at this level," Stewart Mandel, The Athletic's editor-in-chief of college football, told CNN Sport.

"He is one of, if not the, best cornerbacks in college football and he's a 1,000-yard receiver, it's incredible."

Hunter's unique ability to make an impact on every given snap is what has set him apart from the rest of college football this season.

According to PFF, the Colorado standout plays 118 snaps per game, which is almost unbelievable. Hunter played 709 offensive snaps and 713 defensive snaps this season, which is equally distributed across both roles.

"It's incredible just that he plays that many snaps a game, much less at such a high level," Mandel went on.

Hunter led the Buffaloes in catches and receiving yards this season, with 1,152 yards on 92 receptions. Unsurprisingly, he leads the club in touchdowns (15), including one running touchdown.

While accomplishing all of this offensively, the 21-year-old has also established himself on the defensive end of the court. Hunter had four interceptions and broke up 11 passes in a season in which he established himself as an exceptional defender.

Mandel feels Hunter's exceptional ability to play both sides of the ball in this manner contributed to his Heisman victory, and he opposes detractors who claim Hunter is only earning the award because of his snap count.

"His primary and what he was known for was cornerback, and receiver was just the other thing," Mandel tells me. "He's the sixth-best receiver in the country with 1,152 yards, and he's a lockdown cornerback with at least a couple of game-changing interceptions this season."

"So, absolutely a standout on both sides."

Hunter's collection of prizes serves as more evidence of this.

On Thursday, he was awarded Associated Press (AP) Player of the Year, as well as collecting the Chuck Bednarik Award for defensive player of the Year and, only hours later, the Fred Biletnikoff Award for receiver of the Year.

One of the secrets to unlocking Hunter's enormous talent has been playing under Sanders, popularly known as Coach Prime, a former two-way player and current Colorado head coach.

"Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I'm doing," Hunter told The Associated Press. "He did it and knows what it takes - how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball."

In his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech, Hunter said that Sanders had "changed my life forever," and that his bond with the coach was a crucial component in Hunter's collegiate success.

He made NCAA headlines before ever stepping onto the football field when he unexpectedly rejected down a commitment to the Florida State Seminoles in favor of the Jackson State Tigers.

The reason for doing this was simple: Coach Sanders.

"It starts with the fact that Travis Hunter was the No. 1 recruit in the country, he was expected to go to Florida State for a year, and on signing day, he shocked everybody," Mandel says.

"Clearly, he set out in college football to specifically play for (Sanders) and followed him to Colorado when he got that job."

Speaking with the coach convinced Hunter to follow Sanders to Jackson State, an HBCU and FCS institution with significantly less football history than Florida State, and then to Boulder and the Buffs.

"When I first spoke with him, I was like, 'I don't care who he is, I don't want to go there,' but as I spoke with him more, I realized, 'Oh, this might be the place I want to go.'" "He's more than a coach; he's a father," Hunter said on the Pivot podcast.

Mandel believes Sanders, the greatest cornerback of all time, has had a significant impact on Hunter's growth.

This cooperation has been critical in maximizing Hunter's immense talent, and no one has been more supportive of the Heisman winner's desire to play both sides of the ball than his coach.

"He's the best player in college football," Sanders declared following the Buffaloes' 52-0 victory over Oklahoma State. "Travis Hunter proved today, and he's proved every week, that he is the best player in college football."

Coach Prime believed there could only be one Heisman Trophy winner.

"Travis is himself. Travis is that guy. "Nobody could deal with him on either side of the ball," Sanders continued.

Sanders' son, Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, was likewise certain about who deserved to receive the reward.

"It's no argument at this point," the quarterback told reporters following the victory over Oklahoma State.

Hunter clearly has no regrets about following his coach to Colorado via Jackson State.

"I texted him a couple of games ago, saying, 'Coach, you changed my life forever.'" Just being able to see where I am currently. I'm not sure where I would be if I had gone to Florida State," Hunter told The Pivot.

Hunter is largely considered to be a top choice in next year's NFL Draft, and speculation has already begun concerning his potential to compete as a two-way player in the NFL.

"I want to play both sides of the ball," Hunter told Pivot. "Many people told me I couldn't do it in college, but I did it. I know a lot of people will tell me I can't do it in the NFL, but I'm going to do it."

Mandel also feels Hunter can do it at the top level of football.

"I don't see why not," he replied, acknowledging the difficulty of managing two responsibilities.

"It would be incredible, but he's done it for 12 games a year in college, and college football has practice time constraints of 20 hours per week. There are no limitations in the NFL, therefore I believe he can accomplish it."

Hunter's ability to flourish on both sides of the ball in the NFL remains to be seen, but Mandel feels whomever chooses the prodigy should be delighted.

"At the very least, you're getting a guy who could be an All-Pro cornerback and that's a big deal," Mandel told reporters. "And you may get a guy who can also play receiver for you, so you're getting two players in one."

"I believe there is a reason he is predicted to reach No. 1. No. 1 is normally a quarterback, but Travis Hunter is such a unique skill that a team will most likely select him first in the draft."