It was evident that Deion Sanders’ Colorado football team sorely missed Travis Hunter Jr. on both offense and defense during Saturday night’s heated double-overtime victory against Colorado State. The Buffaloes must now adapt swiftly to his absence, as a prompt return appears uncertain.
In fact, Coach Prime has explicitly stated that a return is not imminent.
Hunter, the former No. 1 overall recruit in the college football recruiting Class of 2022, made a surprising commitment switch to Jackson State at the eleventh hour, despite earlier indications favoring Florida State. Jackson State’s Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach offered him a unique opportunity to play on both sides of the ball, a proposition not extended by other schools.
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The Buffaloes made headlines with wins over TCU and Nebraska at the start of the season, igniting excitement in the sports world. Hunter played a pivotal role, contributing 14 receptions for 192 yards and six tackles, including an interception, during the first two weeks of the season. He was notably vocal leading up to the in-state rivalry showdown on Saturday.
Regrettably, his playing time against the Rams was limited due to a late and unsportsmanlike hit that forced the versatile star out of the game early in the first half.
Hunter displayed remarkable resilience, returning to action for a few plays in the second quarter, but was subsequently taken to the hospital at halftime by the medical staff.
At this juncture, both an official status and a diagnosis remain unclear.
Hunter’s girlfriend shared an update from the hospital, suggesting that Hunter is in good spirits and doing well, though no further details were provided.
Around the same time, shortly after the game concluded, Sanders shared the information he had. Unfortunately, the prognosis for a speedy return appears grim.
Coach Prime indicated that Hunter will be sidelined for a few weeks, offering no further specifics.
While there’s always the possibility that Sanders’ timeline might be strategic to keep opponents uncertain about preparing for Hunter, such a scenario seems unlikely.
In the best-case scenario, a “few weeks” would place Hunter back on the field for Colorado’s away game against Arizona State. However, it implies that he is likely to miss at least the next two games, one against No. 13 Oregon and another against top-five-ranked USC, both formidable opponents.
Hunter’s absence was palpable in the gutsy win against the Rams, as he possesses the potential to ignite a game-changing spark at any moment. In his absence, his teammates will need to step up significantly if they hope to overcome their next two formidable opponents.
Further details regarding Hunter’s injury are expected to emerge in the coming days. While the hit’s location might suggest an upper-body issue to an untrained eye, medical professionals will provide more precise information.
