Joel Klatt compares Travis Hunter to Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, other sports legends

Travis Hunter, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, yes, they’re all in the same breath according to Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt.

Now hang on. Klatt is referring to the spectacle of Hunter. Sure, he’s a phenomenal two-way player that should be the favorite for the Heisman and other awards.

But college football fans: appreciate what you have, while you have it.

“Travis Hunter is a unicorn, total unicorn, and I just want to appreciate what he is doing and what we’re seeing, because we’re never going to see this again,” Klatt said on his podcast. “Okay, there comes a time when, as a sports fan, you’ve got to sit back and actually take stock in what you’re witnessing.

“I think a lot of us do that when we watch LeBron play, or those of us that got to watch Michael Jordan play, I’m sure this is how people felt when they watched Mickey Mantle play, or how I felt when I got to stand there when I was a minor league baseball player and watch Barry Bonds take batting practice, or when we watched Tiger Woods hit a golf ball, you know? Like there are things that we just know we’re never going to see again. And this is one of those things. Travis Hunter is one of one, period.” 

Travis Hunter is ‘one of one’ in college football

Hunter has excelled on both sides of the football this season. He has 69 catches, 856 yards, nine touchdowns and 12.4 yards per catch.

On defense, Hunter has 21 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, seven pass deflections and one forced fumble.

“He is the favorite by a wide margin for the Heisman trophy,” Klatt said. “Nobody is doing anything close to what he’s doing right now. He played 170 snaps against Texas Tech. 170 That is absurd, absurd … Travis is incredible, man. And here’s the thing: you look up at the end of the day, he’s got nine catches, 99 yards a touchdown. His touchdown was terrific. He’s played 170 snaps. He is going to win the Heisman if Colorado gets to the Big 12 championship game, and he should, because no one else is doing this. Like all due respect to Ashton Jeanty, you’re having a great year, but like a Mountain West running back is not winning the Heisman Trophy over a guy that’s in the Big 12 doing what he’s doing on both sides of the ball … 

“I had someone tell me, like, well, his defensive statistics like, they’re non existent. Yes. So were Deion Sanders. And you know why? Because no one threw at him. He’s that dominant. He’s taking away a side of the field, a player from the offense. So like, Travis is doing things that I’m just like, that’s incredible. I can’t wait to go and watch him on Saturday, and again, just to appreciate what we’re seeing. Because Travis Hunter is one of one, and he is right now the favorite for the Heisman trophy. Period. Period.”