By means of 4 weeks of the faculty soccer season, not a lot may be very clear. No high staff has actually separated themselves from the pack, the elites of the world are both going by means of QB accidents or lulls of inconsistency, and the parity created by the switch portal has leveled the taking part in subject, not less than to this point.
Nevertheless, one factor is obvious: the most effective 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 additionally one of many recreation’s shutdown corners. He leads the staff in receiving yards, whereas additionally main in interceptions. Evaluating him to Dodgers slugger/pitcher Shohei Ohtani could be a little bit of a stretch at this stage of their respective careers, however Hunter may positively turn into that on the subsequent degree. Nevertheless, let’s simply sit and respect 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 a few of the most spectacular numbers of any receiver within the nation this 12 months. 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 Charge. Hunter can be doing this whereas being fourth in targets and first in routes run by means of 4 video games. He’s producing at an especially excessive degree, whereas additionally being on the sector a LOT.
Now, we get so as to add in his stats AS A DEFENSIVE BACK ONLY. This was harder as a result of he merely hasn’t been thrown at lots. Amongst all of the gamers Sports activities Data Options can monitor, he’s tied for being focused the least with 11 targets. Compared, Colorado receiver Preston Hodge has been focused 23 occasions, eleventh most within the nation. When Hunter is focused, he’s solely allowed eight catches for 57 yards by means of 4 video games and never a single landing, whereas additionally by no means being flagged for cross interference and deflecting two passes. It’s honest to say Hunter has gotten higher, bettering his consistency in protection and never panicking when the ball will get thrown over his head.
He nonetheless stays one of the crucial spectacular gamers within the nation when the ball is within the air. Whether or not it’s at receiver or at defensive again, if the ball is in his neighborhood, he’s going to go try to take it.
In Colorado’s wild additional time victory towards Baylor, Hunter performed each snap on protection, and performed 81 of 92 snaps on offense. Oh, by the best way Hunter additionally led the staff in receptions and yards towards Baylor, whereas not being focused as a defensive again. He’s concurrently shutting down half the sector 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 12 months, and this 12 months they face the extremely powerful Massive 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 received the award final 12 months and LSU misplaced three video games final season. Nevertheless, Daniels was a QB, and Hunter is a nook/receiver. Extra leeway might be given to a sign caller over a talent place participant for misplaced video games, so the margin for error for each Colorado and Hunter is razor skinny. Plus, with different contenders reminiscent of Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty and Miami QB Cameron Ward, the street to the trophy received’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 to be a bit of cake, and for that he must be the early season Heisman winner.
