From Dream to Reality: Travis Hunter’s Unstoppable Journey from Jackson State to College Standout
Written By: Robert Littal I believe plenty of kids dream of creating memorable moments where their passions and talents can shine for all to see
Written By: Robert Littal
I believe plenty of kids dream of creating memorable moments where their passions and talents can shine for all to see. I used to love baseball and dreamed of having a special moment with my favorite childhood team, the Atlanta Braves. Colorado’s Travis Hunter likely had different dreams. He might have envisioned himself saving the game with a clutch interception, followed by a game-winning Super Bowl catch. The crazy part about his dream is that he’s close to making it a reality.
Hunter began his college career at the Historically Black University, Jackson State. Of the top three recruiting sites, only ESPN had Hunter lower than No. 1, and it wasn’t by much. He was their No.2 overall recruit behind Walter Nolen. As the top recruit in the nation, choosing an HBCU was a big deal.
Hunter decided on Jackson State because he wanted the opportunity to be coached by the only man he believed could relate to his talents on both sides of the ball and help him reach his goal of making it to the NFL. That man was Deion Sanders. Hunter became the first-ever No. 1 overall recruit to sign with an HBCU or an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. He is also the first-ever five-star recruit to sign with an HBCU.
While at Jackson State, Hunter more than lived up to expectations. In limited action, Hunter had four offensive touchdowns and 188 yards. He also had ten pass breakups and two interceptions. Although he had limited time on the field, Hunter maximized his time in action. Although his numbers may seem low, plays like his run leading up to the SWAC championship tell the real story.
Watching Travis Hunter’s game, you quickly realize it’s not so much what he does; it’s how he does it. Hunter is a natural athlete, and his knowledge of the game comes from years of combining his intense love for the game with his dedication to studying it from morning until night. He’s often the first player in and the last player to leave at night.
Hunter was prepared to continue his journey at Jackson State, but when Coach Prime received an offer to coach at a Power 5 program and decided to bring his son, Shedeur Sanders, along, Hunter chose to follow his quarterback and mentor to Colorado. That has proven to be the right move for Hunter. His game and the attention it has received has only skyrocketed in Boulder, and it was one display from the very first game he ever played for the Buffaloes.
The first game on the Buffaloes schedule was Texas Christian University, which had just played Georgia for a National Title. The Horned Frogs were favored to win by almost 21 points (20.5), but Colorado managed to win 45-42 against a team that had beaten them 38-13 in 2022. Travis Hunter made his presence known on both sides of the ball, but he ran roughshod on the offensive side, catching eleven passes for 119 yards. He also added a goal-line interception midway through the third quarter to his credentials.
Hunter would finish the year with the Buffaloes, tallying 57 catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns on offense. That’s an average of 6.33 catches per game, with each catch averaging 12.6 yards per catch. He’s also a top-rated corner with the ability to shut down an opposing number-one receiver, so it’s little wonder that Hunter became beloved among journalists covering the sport.
But Hunter is more than just an athlete, as the commercials love to state. He’s always had a deep passion for the community because he understands something fundamental to an athlete’s success: he is only as good as the community that surrounds him. Even though his time is now, it’s still incumbent upon him to provide the chance for the next youngster to come through and make something of himself. When it comes to charity, Hunter already understands what’s most important in life.
Hunter participated in “Cleat Crew,” a project put together by 7-Eleven and The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The project gathered the nation’s best collegiate athletes and paired them with the “The Shoe Surgeon” to design custom cleats, which were then auctioned off for charity. The program raised over $115,000, but that’s not even the most notable charitable action Hunter’s been involved with during his time with Colorado. That would come after Hunter took what many considered a cheap shot, which led to a serious injury for Hunter.
Imagine bowling with someone who took a cheap shot at you, which ended up leading to a very, very serious injury that could have been life-threatening. It seems far-fetched, but that is exactly what Travis Hunter did. Hunter is also not the type of player to hold a grudge or feel angry about things that happen during a game. If you don’t believe me, ask Colorado St. defensive back Henry Blackburn, who became friends with Hunter after that exact scenario took place.
Henry Blackburn pointlessly lit up Travis Hunter along the sidelines on an incomplete pass with about 5 minutes left in the first quarter. Justifiably, he was hit with a personal foul. The hit by Blackburn was so severe it left Hunter with a lacerated liver, which he found out about later when he had to leave the game early due to excruciating pain. This hit sent Hunter to the hospital later that day.
Even though Hunter was the victim of a cheap shot that resulted in injuries that prevented him from playing the next four games, he saw Blackburn as the victim. From Hunter’s point of view, people were trying to crucify someone for playing the game hard. He also hated the online hate that was coming Blackburn’s way.
“It’s not good,” Hunter was quoted as saying in the Daily Mail. “It’s not good for the community. If we was all nice to each other, the world would be 10 times better. That’s how I feel. And that’s how I look at it. And that’s why I don’t get mad.
“It’s football at the end of the day. You’re expecting something bad to happen on the football field. You’re going out there to run into each other a thousand times a game. When it happened, I was like ‘it’s not [your] fault. It’s football.'”
So, how did Hunter respond to the drama? Hunter took it to YouTube, and his response ended the discussion about what Blackburn did. Seriously. Hunter used his massive YouTube channel and invited Henry Blackburn and a bowling partner to compete in a match for charity, with each of them donating $1,000 to charity. Even though the enormously talented Hunter walked away the winner, he still gave Blackburn the ability to choose where the money would go. Blackburn chose Realities for Children, a non-profit for abused children which has locations near both campuses.
Travis Hunter Runs Into Henry Blackburn (Worst Enemy)
Hunter is about to begin his junior season this year, and it will be his third conference in three years. He’ll now have gone from the SWAC to the Pac-12 to the Big XII. The hype is as real as ever as Hunter makes his debut as a cover athlete on EA College Football ’25 alongside Quinn Ewars and Donovan Edwards. This marks the game’s return after an ELEVEN-year absence, so to say that all eyes will be on this game is an understatement of epic proportions.
But whether he’s playing man cover or if he’s the cover athlete, Travis Hunter is going to approach it with the same intensity and passion. He’s going to give everything he has, and he’s going to make sure those around him are better because of him. But more than anything, he’s going to leave his community in a better place than when he found it because that’s the type of human Hunter is, and that’s the mark he wants to leave on the world.
It’s safe to say he’s done that up until this point.
