Colorado’s Travis Hunter has won the 2024 Heisman Trophy, besting Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, Miami’s Cam Ward, and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel for college football’s most prestigious award.
Hunter came into the evening as the slight favorite after winning the Associated Press’ College Football Player of the Year Award earlier this week.
His head coach, Deion Sanders was in the front row of the crowd to watch Hunter win the award, alongside his son and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
After Hunter was named the winner, he had a long embrace with his head coach and was emotional in his speech when talking about the Sanders duo.
‘Coach Prime, Shedeur, y’all changed my life forever. That one simple one call Shedeur, look where I’m at. That’s crazy bro,’ Hunter said.
The Buffaloes star becomes the first Heisman winner to be a starter on his team’s defense since 1997, when Charles Woodson took home the bronze trophy.
Hunter became undeniable at the sport’s mountaintop due to his ability as a two-way player, with questions as to which, if either, he would specialize in at the professional level.
‘I’m just shocked to be on this stage right now. I can’t get everything out that I want to say,’ Hunter said.
Hunter credited his grandmother as the one that inspired him to start playing football at 4.
‘You’ve seen the vision before I even saw the vision,’ Hunter said to his grandmother, who was in the Manhattan audience.
Not in New York City for the ceremony was Hunter’s father, Travis Hunter Sr., with the Colorado star not holding back his tears when addressing him through the television.
‘Dad, I love you,’ Hunter said. ‘All the stuff you went through, man. Look at your oldest son. I did it for you, man. All the times you ain’t get to see me, and the times that you came to see my games. From probably two games in high school to seeing me on TV every weekend and coming to see me, man, that means so much to me.’
Also in the crowd supporting Hunter was Grammy Award-winning rapper Lil Wayne, who the Colorado star said he listens to in his headphones before games.
Hunter started his college career at Jackson State as a five-star recruit to head to an FCS-level school to be coached by Sanders.
As Sanders took the job at Colorado, Hunter followed him to Boulder and took his game to the next level.
On offense, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
In the secondary, Hunter had 32 tackles, four interceptions, a forced fumble, and 11 pass breakups.
Hunter was emotional talking about his family after receiving the award on stage in a light blue suit.
Both Hunter and Sanders are expected to be selected in the first 10 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Hunter is the second Heisman Trophy winner from Colorado after Rashaan Salaam won the award in 1994. Hunter also became the first Heisman Trophy winner to play in the FCS.
This was the closest Heisman vote since 2009, with Jeanty finishing second. Gabriel was third and Ward finished in fourth place, both far behind the top two.
Hunter received 552 first-place votes, compared to 309 for Jeanty. Only Gabriel, 24, had at least double-digit first-place votes among the other candidates.
