Photo by: Derek Marckel
Travis Hunter Named Academic All-American
January 25, 2024 | Football, Herbst Academic Center
BOULDER – Travis Hunter was named a first-team 2023 Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators Tuesday, becoming just the second player in program history to earn first-team All-America and first-team Academic All-America honors.Â
In the most elite of company, Hunter joins Joe Romig, who was similarly a consensus first-team All-American on the field and Academic All-American in the classroom in both 1960 and '61. Â When factoring in second, third and honorable mention All-Americans and second and third team Academic All-Americans, the list only grows to eight occurrences by seven players in program history.Â
Hunter is majoring in Psychology at Colorado and has a 3.6 cumulative GPA. Â This season, he is one of four consensus first-team All-Americans and first-team Academic All-Americans, joining Washington WR Rome Odunze, Kansas State OL Cooper Beebe and Michigan OL Zak Zinter. Â
This year's Paul Hornung Award Winner as the nation's most versatile player, he earned first-team All-America honors by four of the five publications for determining consensus and unanimous honors, earning first-team honors by the Associated Press, AFCA and FWAA at the all-purpose position and on the Sporting News team at the athlete position. He was only omitted by the Walter Camp team, which is the only one that does not include an athlete, all-purpose or flex position. Overall, Hunter is the 64th first-team All-American in CU history and the 26th consensus first-team selection, just missing out on becoming the school's sixth unanimous first-team All-American.Â
Despite missing three-and-a-half games, he played 1,032 snaps on offense, defense, and special teams, more than any other FBS player in the regular season, averaging 114.7 snaps per game, or more accurately 121.4 snaps per game when accounting for the other half-game he missed.Â
Offensively, Hunter wrapped up the season with 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 80.1 yards and 6.3 receptions per game. On the defensive front, he finished with 30 tackles, including two for a loss, along with three interceptions and five pass breakups.
Hunter stands out as the first player in at least the past 25 seasons to achieve 50-plus receptions and three or more interceptions in the same season. The only comparable performance was in 1998 when Georgia's Champ Bailey recorded 47 receptions for 744 yards and five touchdowns on offense coupled with three interceptions on the defensive side.
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In the most elite of company, Hunter joins Joe Romig, who was similarly a consensus first-team All-American on the field and Academic All-American in the classroom in both 1960 and '61. Â When factoring in second, third and honorable mention All-Americans and second and third team Academic All-Americans, the list only grows to eight occurrences by seven players in program history.Â
- Joe Romig, 1960, Consensus First-Team All-American, First-Team Academic All-American
- Joe Romig, 1960, Consensus First-Team All-American, First-Team Academic All-AmericanÂ
- Kirk Tracy, 1967, Second Team All-American (AP), First-Team Academic All-AmericanÂ
- Charlie Davis, 1971 Honorable Mention All-American (AP), 1972 Second-Team All-American (UPI), 1971 Second-Team Academic All-AmericanÂ
- Don Hasselbeck, 1976 First-Team All-American (TSN), Second-Team Academic All-American (1975 & '76)
- Eric McCarty, 1987 Honorable Mention All-American (AP), First-Team Academic All-AmericanÂ
- Nelson Spruce, 2014 Honorable Mention All-American (SI), Second-Team Academic All-AmericanÂ
- Travis Hunter, 2023, Consensus First-Team All-American, First-Team Academic All-AmericanÂ
Hunter is majoring in Psychology at Colorado and has a 3.6 cumulative GPA. Â This season, he is one of four consensus first-team All-Americans and first-team Academic All-Americans, joining Washington WR Rome Odunze, Kansas State OL Cooper Beebe and Michigan OL Zak Zinter. Â
This year's Paul Hornung Award Winner as the nation's most versatile player, he earned first-team All-America honors by four of the five publications for determining consensus and unanimous honors, earning first-team honors by the Associated Press, AFCA and FWAA at the all-purpose position and on the Sporting News team at the athlete position. He was only omitted by the Walter Camp team, which is the only one that does not include an athlete, all-purpose or flex position. Overall, Hunter is the 64th first-team All-American in CU history and the 26th consensus first-team selection, just missing out on becoming the school's sixth unanimous first-team All-American.Â
Despite missing three-and-a-half games, he played 1,032 snaps on offense, defense, and special teams, more than any other FBS player in the regular season, averaging 114.7 snaps per game, or more accurately 121.4 snaps per game when accounting for the other half-game he missed.Â
Offensively, Hunter wrapped up the season with 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 80.1 yards and 6.3 receptions per game. On the defensive front, he finished with 30 tackles, including two for a loss, along with three interceptions and five pass breakups.
Hunter stands out as the first player in at least the past 25 seasons to achieve 50-plus receptions and three or more interceptions in the same season. The only comparable performance was in 1998 when Georgia's Champ Bailey recorded 47 receptions for 744 yards and five touchdowns on offense coupled with three interceptions on the defensive side.
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Players Mentioned
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