Colorado DC delivers a clear verdict on Travis Hunter as he sets the "standard" for the entire squad
Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter has been one of the best players in the nation and is a significant Heisman Trophy contender. But before Hunter became a star on the national stage, he needed first to be a leader in his locker room. Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston used a media session during the bye week to discuss how Hunter has impacted the Buff program.
Colorado DC praises Hunter as a standard-setter
Livingston, formerly an assistant with the Cincinnati Bengals, was hired as the DC at Colorado in 2024. He left little doubt about his regard for Hunter.
"Anytime you have a guy like Travis, that works the way he works, it's going to rise everybody else's level," Livingston said. "If your best player is not your hardest worker, it's hard to have a culture. Travis is our culture, he's the standard," he added.
Travis Hunter's Performance and Colorado
Besides being a game-breaking wide receiver, Hunter is an impactful standout at cornerback and has had a solid 2024 season. He has 21 tackles and has broken up nine passes, including a pair of interceptions. But Hunter's impact has trickled down through the other Buffaloes defenders.
A season ago, Colorado went 4-8 in part because the Buffs allowed 34.8 points per game despite an excellent season from Hunter, who had 30 tackles and broke up eight passes, including a trio of interceptions. In 2023, Colorado was 10th in the 12-team Pac-12 in pass defense efficiency.
Things have changed this season. The Buffs are 6-2, in part because they're allowing just 22 points per game. Colorado is 10th in the 16-team Big 12 in pass defense in 2024, but they are within one point of being sixth in quarterback rating. The 209.3 passing yards per game they've allowed are sixth.
Travis Hunter's history
Hunter has had an odyssey of a collegiate career to reach this point. He followed coach Deion Sanders to HBCU Jackson State as one of the nation's top recruits. While Hunter created a splash in recruiting, early returns on his play were not exceptional, as he battled injuries in his freshman season. Hunter finished with 18 catches, 19 tackles, and 10 pass break-ups.
He then transferred to Colorado to follow his coach and had a brilliant, if sometimes uneven, sophomore campaign. Hunter finished with 57 receptions for 721 yards and six scores in the high-powered Colorado offense. His 30 tackles and eight pass break-ups were noted above.
Hunter now finds himself in the position of being a two-way impact player in the NFL. Now a favorite for the Heisman Trophy, he is a likely very high first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Indeed, reviews like those from Livingston will be music to the ears of NFL teams pondering tying their futures to Hunter.
What do you think of the Colorado star? Share your talking points below in our comments section!