Travis Hunter (American football)

Travis Hunter Jr. (born May 18, 2003) is an American football cornerback and wide receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes. He previously played for the Jackson State Tigers, where he was the highest-ranked prospect to ever commit to an FCS school. Hunter transferred to Colorado in 2023, winning the Paul Hornung Award and earning consensus All-American honors that season.

Early life
A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Hunter moved to Georgia as an eighth grader. He attended Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, where he played cornerback and wide receiver for the Eagles. As a sophomore, he led the county with seven interceptions while recording 49 receptions for 919 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a junior, Hunter made eight interceptions and 51 tackles in addition to catching 137 passes for 1,746 yards and 24 touchdowns, earning MaxPreps Georgia Player of the Year honors. He also set Gwinnett County single-season records in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, leading the Eagles to a 12–3 record and an appearance in the Class 7A state title game.

As a senior, Hunter recorded 76 receptions for 1,128 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense and 23 tackles, four interceptions, and a forced fumble on defense, even after missing five games due to a mid-season ankle injury. In the state title game, he made 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown, as well as a forced fumble, to cap off a perfect 15–0 record and Collins Hill's first state championship in school history. In his final high school game, Hunter made 10 catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns in their 40–36 defeat to Washington state champs Graham-Kapowsin in the GEICO State Championship Bowl Series. He also broke the Georgia state record in career receiving touchdowns, previously held by Braxton Hicks, with 48.

Hunter was selected to play in the 2022 Polynesian Bowl, where he won Offensive MVP honors after recording five receptions for 54 yards, in addition to an interception on defense.

Recruiting
Hunter was considered the number one overall recruit by both 247Sports.com and Rivals.com, as well as number two by ESPN (behind Walter Nolen). After having received a scholarship from Florida State in November 2019, he committed to the Seminoles on March 3, 2020, one day after making his first visit to the school. He made his choice over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma, among others.

On December 15, 2021, Hunter flipped his commitment to the Jackson State Tigers coached by Deion Sanders, a Florida State alum, in an unprecedented move. He had visited the school the month before, attending their sellout Soul Bowl victory on November 20. As the number one recruit in the nation, Hunter became the first five-star recruit to ever sign with an HBCU or FCS school. Dustin Lewis of Sports Illustrated called it "probably the most shocking decision in the history of college football recruiting" while Steve Wiltfong, the national director of recruiting for 247Sports, said it was "the biggest signing day moment in the history of college football".

Jackson State
Hunter recorded two receiving touchdowns and two interceptions in the Jackson State spring game, which was the first HBCU spring game to ever be nationally televised. Hunter recorded his first collegiate touchdown as well as his first interception against Alabama A&M on November 12, 2022. As a freshman, Hunter accumulated 19 total tackles, eight pass breakups, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown in seven games played. On offense, he added 18 receptions for 188 yards and four touchdowns.

Colorado
Hunter transferred to the University of Colorado in 2023, following Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders. In his FBS debut, Hunter played 147 total snaps across offense and defense in a 45-42 upset win over the TCU Horned Frogs.

Personal life
Hunter's father, Travis Sr., played in the Florida Football Alliance and the Southern States Football League, winning the latter's Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2007. Hunter has NIL deals with companies such as Greenwood and several of Michael Strahan's brands. He was one of the cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 25 along with Donovan Edwards and Quinn Ewers.

Hunter is engaged to his high school sweetheart, Leanna Lenee.