Colorado’s football coach, Deion Sanders, expressed strong discontent over Travis Hunter’s exclusion from the Jim Thorpe Award finalist list, labeling it as “idiotic” and detrimental to the award’s integrity. The Jim Thorpe Award honors the nation’s top defensive back, but Hunter, who excels as both a cornerback and receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes and is a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, was surprisingly left out of the top three finalists: Jahdae Barron (Texas), Caleb Downs (Ohio State), and Malaki Starks (Georgia).
During a news conference in Boulder, Sanders, who himself won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988, questioned the decision passionately, stating, “How is Travis Hunter snubbed by the Thorpe Award?” He went as far as to offer his own award to Hunter, emphasizing his belief that the young athlete is arguably the best defensive back in college football.
The Jim Thorpe Award is managed by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, which has a selection committee that narrows down candidates to three finalists. In response to Sanders, the Hall of Fame’s executive director, Mike James, expressed appreciation for Sanders’ passion and acknowledged the difficulties the committee faces in selecting finalists. He praised the time and effort dedicated to the selection process.
Despite the Thorpe Award snub, Hunter has still achieved significant recognition, being named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which honors the best receiver in major college football. He has impressive stats, with 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns, alongside three interceptions and nine pass breakups on defense. Sanders noted that Hunter’s skills also manifest in preventing opposing quarterbacks from targeting him, stating, “He rarely gets thrown at.”
Looking ahead, Colorado, holding an 8-3 record, will end its regular season with a game against Oklahoma State. Although they suffered a recent setback against Kansas, the Buffaloes continue to have a slim chance to reach the Big 12 Championship game, contingent on favorable outcomes in other matchups.
The winner of the Jim Thorpe Award will be announced on December 12, while the Heisman Trophy finalists will be revealed on December 9, and the winner is set to be declared on December 14.
This situation highlights the competitive nature of college football awards and serves as a reminder of how subjective selection processes can be. With Hunter’s growing recognition and Sanders’ outspoken support, there is hope that this will ultimately enhance Hunter’s visibility and credibility as a top player in college football.