Radio host Jay Smith shares strategy to use injury ridden Travis Hunter against Arizona: "Limit his defensive play"
Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter didn't get a chance to further his claim for the Heisman Trophy on Saturday, leaving the game against the No. 18 Kansas State Wildcats in the second quarter with an apparent shoulder injury. Ultimately, the Buffaloes put up a valiant effort that included a brief lead but lost 31-28.
During his weekly news conference, charismatic Colorado coach Deion Sanders announced that Hunter could play during the Buffs' Week 8 clash against the Arizona Wildcats.
In this week's episode of the "Prime Time for College Football" show, host Jay Smith questioned whether Hunter should be allowed to play on both sides of the ball against the Wildcats so soon after his injury.
"With Travis playing, to me, I would limit his defensive play because it's a shoulder injury," Smith said. "I'd be more concerned about that. He does a really good job of getting down on offense. He's catching passes and preventing himself from really getting lit. But on defense, he's gotta lay the hammer down on some folks."
Smith highlighted the Wildcats' biggest offensive weapon, Tetairoa McMillan, who has 742 yards and four touchdowns on 42 receptions, and how Travis Hunter could be tasked with locking him down.
"You really want him out there on T-McMillan," Smith said (Timestamp: 6:30). "You really, really do, but you also don't want him to go out and tackle a whole bunch of people. So, to me, I would want Travis to play more offense than defense in that game 'cause that's gonna keep some of that continuity and let some of the other players play out there in the secondary. But it's gonna be a tough one to decide.
"Do you put Travis out there against T-McMillan or not? Because you really do, because McMillan is a monster and when (Arizona quarterback Noah) Fifita is going – and he's going to him – that's where your problem is going to be."
Coach Prime blamed for Travis Hunter getting injured
Travis Hunter had taken part in 92% of the snaps played by the Colorado Buffaloes before the clash against the Kansas State Wildcats. On his "Fearless" show, controversial analyst Jason Whitlock blamed Colorado coach Deion Sanders for the injury sustained by the two-way star.
"Deion Sanders is the reason Travis Hunter got hurt," Whitlock said. "Because Deion Sanders thinks that he has reinvented football and that he is the greatest coach that’s ever hit college football.
"You know what? I can take a 19-, 20- and 21-year-old kid with amazing (talent), and I can play both ways and play them every snap for an entire season because I am Deion Sanders."
Colorado Buffaloes fans will monitor how Coach Prime uses Travis Hunter as the team's chances of success mostly depend on him and mercurial quarterback Shedeur Sanders staying healthy.