Deion Sanders raves about mentality of Travis Hunter, shares his unique schedule

If the college football world wasn’t already aware of what Travis Hunter is capable of doing heading into the 2023 season, it is now. The Colorado two-way star put on a show in Saturday’s upset win over TCU.

Hunter caught 11 passes for 119 yards, made three tackles and added a diving interception to help the Buffaloes stun TCU on the road.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders joined Undisputed on Monday and shared what makes Hunter such a great player. According to Sanders, it’s not just his skillset, it’s also his mindset.

“This guy is different. … He’s a dawg. Like he is cut different,” Sanders said. “That’s why there’s a ‘D’ on his shirt. I don’t have no captains. I don’t believe in no captains. I believe in leaders and dawgs. Every dawg ain’t a leader and every leader ain’t a dawg. But he’s both.”

Deion Sanders had no doubt that Travis Hunter would play well on Saturday. The former five-star recruit was up early that morning and couldn’t wait to get on the field and show what he can do.

“Travis Hunter texted me. I think it was 6 o’clock in the morning – ‘Let’s go. Let’s go do this baby.’ That’s the text I get from Travis Hunter first thing in the morning on Saturday morning – ‘Let’s go do this baby.’ So this kid is born like that,” Sanders said.

Following the early morning message, Hunter went out and put on a show.

While Hunter loves being on the field, Sanders has put together a unique practice schedule for him to allow him to get the rest he needs.

As a two-way player, Hunter plays more snaps than anyone. Because of that, leading up to games, he gets time off from practice.

“I told him last week, ‘Look man, you’re resting. I don’t want to see you practicing until Friday, until we get to Fort Worth.’ Travis was on the field Thursday trying to go full, I said, ‘No, didn’t I just tell you I don’t want you practicing?’ So this week I said, ‘Dude, you’re out ‘til Wednesday. You’re not practicing ‘til Wednesday,’” Sanders explained. “We practice on Sunday, and he just played 60 percent of the snaps. Monday is the off day. We have the scouting report. We practice Tuesday. But I don’t want to see him on the field until Wednesday, because I understand the toll and what it takes to play both ways consistently and mentally and psychologically and physically. I understand that. So I give him a couple of days off, because I know what I can count on on Saturday. He’s going to be there, baby. I promise you that.”

Hunter played 129 snaps on Saturday and said after the game that he was ready for more.

It was truly an incredible performance by the sophomore and one that has him in the Heisman conversation.

Skip Bayless asked Sanders if Hunter is more of a cornerback or wide receiver. Coach Prime believes he is elite at both spots.

“He’s both. Travis gets bored if you just leave him on offense and he does not get to play defense. If you leave him on defense and he doesn’t get to play offense, he’s upset. He’s only done this his whole life. You can’t take that away from him. That’s why I’m thankful and I’m proud that I’m his coach, because I understand. I understand totally, holistically. And guess what? It’s a few more Travis Hunters out there watching right now that I’m going to recruit. Who else going to let you play both ways than coach Prime? Hey, I ain’t hard to find,” Sanders said.

“This kid is a first-rounder on both sides of the ball. Like first pick. That’s who he is. And he loves the game. He does not tire of loving the game and wanting to be in the game and studying the game and all the intricate details of the game.”