Coach Prime Not Happy With Snub Of Hunter By Thorpe Award
November 26, 2024 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders is not happy that Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter has been left off the list of finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football.
"How is Travis Hunter snubbed by the Jim Thorpe Award?" Coach Prime asked at his Tuesday press conference. "You could have my award. You can have it back. Matter of fact, I'm gonna give him mine. I ain't using it. Just sit up there collecting dust. So Travis is going to have my Thorpe award."
Of course, Hunter is still considered to be the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in college football. He is also on the finalist list for the Maxwell Award (best all-around player), the Walter Camp Award (collegiate player of the year), the Bednarik Award (best defensive player), the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver) and the Hornung Award (most-versatile player).
But inexplicably — at least to Coach Prime — Hunter isn't among the finalists for the Thorpe Award, an honor Sanders won in 1988.
CU has also won two Thorpe Awards, with Deon Figures claiming the honor in 1992 and Chris Hudson in 1994.
Hunter has earned national attention this year for his outstanding play on both sides of the ball. He has 82 receptions this season for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he has recorded three interceptions, nine pass breakups and has been in on 30 tackles. He also had a touchdown-saving forced fumble that decided the game in CU's overtime win against Baylor.
His skill as a defender means opponents seldom throw his way, giving CU's defense great versatility with its scheme.
"If this ain't the most idiotic thing in college football, that he's not a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award," Coach Prime said. "I don't think there's really an argument about this young man being the best defensive back in college football."
Hunter consistently has graded out among the top defensive backs in the nation according to Pro Football Focus. He is also being projected by a number of mock drafts as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft next April.
"He's won a game tackling for us, and he's always on point," Coach Prime said. "So if you bring up the statistics, I don't know how in the world Travis Hunter is not a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award. They just pretty much messed up all the integrity of the award, and he could have mine. Whoever is voting down there, who's ever bringing it home, thank you. I don't even want mine now."
