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 HBCU or FCS program.

Hunter transferred to Colorado in 2023, where he won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in college football.

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.

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).

He went on to play semipro football in the Florida Football Alliance and the Southern States Football League, winning the latter's Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2007.

In February 2022, Hunter signed a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with J5 Caffe, a coffee company based in Columbus, Mississippi.

In July 2022, Hunter signed a multiyear endorsement deal with Greenwood, a financial technology company based in Atlanta, Georgia.

He is the first NIL deal for Greenwood.

In September 2022, he became a brand ambassador for Michael Strahan's brands.

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 a HBCU or an FCS program.

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.com, said it was "the biggest signing day moment in the history of college football".

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.

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.

Hunter's father, Travis Sr., starred on the football and track teams at Boynton Beach Community High School.