Vikings Receiver Praises Young College Player for Week 1 Effort
Josh Frey
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Week 1 of the college football season got started this weekend, and one of the more entertaining games took place in Boulder, Colorado, as the Colorado Buffaloes played host to the TCU Horned Frogs.
The game was Deion Sanders’ first as head coach of the program, and it was a massive test for his program against the national runner-ups.
Sanders’ son, Shedeur, had a truly incredible showing at quarterback, passing for a school-record 511 yards and 4 TDs. However, the QB may not have even be the most impressive thing to happen on Saturday after how his teammate, Travis Hunter, performed. Minnesota Vikings receiver K.J. Osborn took notice.
Vikings Receiver Praises Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter enrolled at Jackson State in 2022 after a high school resume that left many believing he was not only the top wide receiver but also the top cornerback. Take a look at what Andrew Ivins of 24/7 Sports wrote of Hunter during his recruitment:
A generational type of talent. Legitimately CB1 and WR1 for the class of 2022. Makes everything he does look extremely easy. Smooth. Explosive. Competitive. At times it seems like he’s almost a human cheat code as he’s always making the highlight reel play at the right time. Video game numbers during prep career (over 3,600 receiving yards, 46 touchdowns catches and 19 interceptions) make him seem even more godly. Hasn’t tested anywhere, but he’s one of those prospects that doesn’t need to run on the lasers to verify anything as his play speed trumps others. Quick to read and react on the defensive side of the ball. Likes to bait quarterbacks into making poor decisions. Elite ball skills and ability to elevate over other players helps him take away throwing windows. Shifty footwork makes him difficult to cover when he’s on offense.
Hunter followed Sanders from Jackson State to Colorado this offseason, and in his first game with the Buffaloes, he lived up to all the hype. Not only did the sophomore record 11 receptions for 119 yards for the offense, but he also played the full game on defense and recorded a ridiculous interception on the goal line. Playing both ways, he appeared in 110 snaps over the course of the game.
In the aftermath of the performance, Osborn took to social media and praised Hunter. He tweeted, “Travis Hunter playing both sides of the ball, just walked down a would’ve been TD from the backside of the defense! And had to defeat 2 blocks to do it. Then couple plays later catches a great int to get his team the ball back. Talk about effort! He special.”
In order for Colorado to make some noise during their final season in the PAC-12 conference (they will head to the Big 12 in 2024), Hunter will need to continue to show out on both sides of the ball. If he does so, we could be looking at a future NFL star when he becomes draft eligible in a couple years.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.