After Shedeur Sanders’ Maxwell Award Watchlist Nod, Travis Hunter’s Latest Defensive Recognition Could Pose Challenges for Coach Prime

The Buffs’ are looking loaded this Big 12! The team has Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, and BJ Green Ⅱ. And these guys are everywhere right now. Remember when they made the Preseason All-Big 12 team earlier this month? Well, now they’re on all sorts of watchlists for major college football awards. 

Just this past Monday, Buffs’ quarterback Shedeur Sanders was nominated for the Maxwell Award watchlist. Now, this is given to the most outstanding player in college football and there are already 80 guys on the list!

But wait, there’s more. The CU Buffs official X handle just announced that “Travis Hunter has been named to the Jim Thorpe Watchlist.” Now, that’s for the best defensive back in the CFB and is solely based on skills, performance, and character. If Hunter wins this out of the 42 contenders, it would be quite crazy. Especially since his coach, Deion Sanders, won it back in ’89.

And let’s not forget about BJ Green Ⅱ. He’s been picked for the Outland Trophy watchlist, which goes to the best lineman in college football. Now, the Buffs are facing some tough competition too. Especially, Shedeur is going to have a hard time winning the Maxwell Award with lots of great QBs in the running, like Georgia’s Carson Beck, Arizona’s Noah Fifita, and Texas’ Quinn Ewers. 

However, Hunter’s threat as a defensive star is no big surprise in getting awards attention. But it’s a double-edged sword for Coach Prime that could pose a challenge. 

Is Travis Hunter best on the offense or defense?

Unlike BJ Green or Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter plays both offense and defense. Last year, even though he played just 9  games, he was still a monster on the field. As a corner, he picked off three passes, broke up five, and managed to get 30 tackles. On offense, as a wide receiver, he caught 57 receptions for 721 yards. 

But the crazy thing is, everyone’s talking about him just as a corner. He’s already won the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year this July. And now he’s on the Bronko Nagurski watchlist, which is also for the best defensive player in the country. Now, this can be a big problem for Coach Prime. Does he play Hunter on offense or defense? Everyone’s got an opinion though. 

An NFL GM said Hunter is natural as a receiver. “To excel at corner, he’d really have to dedicate himself to the technique and craft. At receiver, his athleticism shines,” he reportedly said. Even NFL WR Tyreek Hill thinks Hunter should play receiver because receivers make more money. Talking to a podcast back in April, he said, “Receivers like you get paid a whole lot more money man” and added how “Travis Hunter should play receiver.” He also went ahead and praised his “run routes” and “ability to just catch the ball” drawing attention to his offensive skills.

Now Deion sure wants to get Hunter ready for the NFL, that too as a top pick. And what side will he choose for his two-way threat?