Deion Sanders: Travis Hunter clinched Heisman with performance vs. Oklahoma State

It was a sterling sendoff in what he plans to be his final game in Folsom Field for Travis Hunter. And his head coach, Deion Sanders, thinks he sewed up the Heisman Trophy with his effort.

Hunter is currently the strong betting favorite to win the award and gave voters every reason to cast their ballots for him with his performance in the regular season finale. Hunter finished off with 10 catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns, plus and interception and two more pass breakups.

So Sanders was unequivocal in his postgame press conference.

“I think Travis clinched the Heisman,” Sanders said, before pausing and then starting up again. “Thank you God, for stopping me. Because I almost said something. I think Travis clinched the Heisman with his performance. I think he made a lot of people aware of how ignorant they was with the Thorpe. His performance today, what’d he have? Three touchdowns, 100 yards and an interception and two passes broken up. Should’ve had another pick. Hit him right in the darn chest. I’m not happy about that, but I’m happy with him. But it’s phenomenal.”

And for his part, Hunter was happy to silence the critics and said as much in a brief postgame interview with ESPN on the field.

“Me just playing football, man,” Hunter said to ESPN sideline reporter Quint Kessenich after a 52-0 win for the Buffaloes against Oklahoma State. “They say I can’t do it, I’m not a top receiver, so I had to show ’em.”

As for the interception, Hunter was pleased to get the ball thrown his way so he could make a play, as opposing offenses have, understandably, avoided him.

“It felt great, man. Coming out here, getting an interception. I rarely get thrown at, so when I got my hands on the ball, I was excited,” Hunter said.

Saturday also marks what will likely be one of the last games Hunter plays with Sanders as his head coach. After improbably signing Hunter to Jackson State and bringing him along to Colorado, Sanders has come to treat Hunter like a quasi-son, something he’s been open about.

And the feeling is reciprocated from the Colorado star.

“Like I said before, it just like a father-son bond and I can go and ask him for anything, he’ll give me advice for everything. I love him,” Hunter said.