By way of 4 weeks of the school soccer season, not a lot could be very clear. No high group has actually separated themselves from the pack, the elites of the world are both going via QB accidents or lulls of inconsistency, and the parity created by the switch portal has leveled the enjoying subject, no less than to this point.
Nonetheless, one factor is evident: one of the best participant in faculty soccer resides in Boulder, Colorado.
Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/large receiver/dynamo Travis Hunter is a participant faculty soccer hasn’t seen in a very long time. He’s a high flight receiver, but in addition one of many recreation’s shutdown corners. He leads the group in receiving yards, whereas additionally main in interceptions. Evaluating him to Dodgers slugger/pitcher Shohei Ohtani can be a little bit of a stretch at this stage of their respective careers, however Hunter might positively develop into that on the subsequent stage. Nonetheless, let’s simply sit and recognize how nice Hunter is thru 4 video games, and why he might be the Heisman trophy winner this season.
Travis Hunter AS A RECEIVER ONLY is placing up among the most spectacular numbers of any receiver within the nation this yr. He’s sixth within the nation in receiving yards, tied for third in receiving touchdowns, and amongst gamers with over 20 targets, he’s fifth in Optimistic Play Fee. Hunter can also be doing this whereas being fourth in targets and first in routes run via 4 video games. He’s producing at a particularly excessive stage, whereas additionally being on the sphere a LOT.
Now, we get so as to add in his stats AS A DEFENSIVE BACK ONLY. This was tougher as a result of he merely hasn’t been thrown at rather a lot. Amongst all of the gamers Sports activities Info Options can observe, he’s tied for being focused the least with 11 targets. As compared, Colorado receiver Preston Hodge has been focused 23 instances, eleventh most within the nation. When Hunter is focused, he’s solely allowed eight catches for 57 yards via 4 video games and never a single landing, whereas additionally by no means being flagged for move interference and deflecting two passes. It’s truthful to say Hunter has gotten higher, enhancing his consistency in protection and never panicking when the ball will get thrown over his head.
He nonetheless stays one of the vital spectacular gamers within the nation when the ball is within the air. Whether or not or not it’s at receiver or at defensive again, if the ball is in his neighborhood, he’s going to go attempt to take it.
In Colorado’s wild additional time victory in opposition to Baylor, Hunter performed each snap on protection, and performed 81 of 92 snaps on offense. Oh, by the way in which Hunter additionally led the group in receptions and yards in opposition to Baylor, whereas not being focused as a defensive again. He’s concurrently shutting down half the sphere for the protection whereas additionally being the fulcrum of the Buffaloes offense. That’s preposterous ranges of manufacturing, stuff of faculty soccer legend.
Hunter ought to have his flight booked to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony already. The one factor stopping him from profitable is the place he performs and the top of season file for Colorado. The Buffaloes tumbled catastrophically to finish the season final yr, and this yr they face the extremely powerful Huge 12. After dropping a recreation to Nebraska, Colorado can’t afford to lose many extra to maintain Hunters’ Heisman race alive. LSU QB Jayden Daniels gained the award final yr and LSU misplaced three video games final season. Nonetheless, Daniels was a QB, and Hunter is a nook/receiver. Extra leeway will probably be given to a sign caller over a ability place participant for misplaced video games, so the margin for error for each Colorado and Hunter is razor skinny. Plus, with different contenders comparable to Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty and Miami QB Cameron Ward, the street to the trophy gained’t be simple.
But, nothing about Travis Hunter in faculty soccer is straightforward. Enjoying virtually each snap of each recreation isn’t simple. Hunter makes it appear like a bit of cake, and for that he needs to be the early season Heisman winner.
