Travis Hunter signs deal with adidas ahead of Heisman Trophy ceremony

This week, Travis Hunter is heading to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. He also added another notable deal to his portfolio.

The Colorado two-way star is joining forces with adidas as part of the company’s Next Gen roster, the company announced. To celebrate the partnership, adidas launched a line of limited-edition apparel celebrating Hunter after his standout 2024 season, which earned him a trip to the Heisman ceremony.

Hunter is the second Heisman finalist to sign with adidas. Miami quarterback Cam Ward did so earlier this year, becoming the first college football player to sign an NIL deal with the company. They will both be honored this weekend ahead of the ceremony.

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Let the show begin. Welcome to the adidas family, @TravisHunterJr 🔥 pic.twitter.com/McecDQcNM0

— adidas Football US (@adidasFballUS) December 12, 2024

“Working with adidas is a special opportunity for me and something that I’m really excited about asI look ahead to what’s next,” Hunter said in a statement. “The partners they currently have are top tier with some of the best young guys like me. I’m pumped to join the three stripes as we continue pushing the boundaries of the sport we all love.”

Hunter put together a memorable 2024 season on both sides of the ball to lead Colorado’s turnaround to a 9-3 record. He hauled in 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns at wide receiver, and also totaled four interceptions while playing cornerback. He cemented himself as a true two-way player, becoming one of the most visible players in college football along the way.

“As part of our continued investment in the next generation of athletes, we’re proud to partner with someone whose passion for sport and drive to create impact on and off the field mirrors our own,” said Aaron Seabron, adidas General Manager for US Sports & Creation Center Portland. “Travis is undeniably one of the most dynamic athletes in any sport, and we’re excited to collaborate with him and celebrate all that he accomplishes as he transitions into the next phase of what promises to be a long and successful career.”

Travis Hunter flourished in NIL space at Colorado

Deion Sanders made it clear Travis Hunter will play in Colorado’s bowl game this year, meaning his time with the Buffs isn’t over yet. But he still cemented himself as one of the biggest names in the NIL space.

Hunter secured NIL deals with NerdWallet, United Airlines, JLab and Celsius during the 2024 season, and he also hosts a podcast through a partnership with Overtime. He was also one of the cover athletes on the highly anticipated EA Sports College Football 25 video game.

Over the last 10 weeks, Hunter saw his On3 NIL Valuation soar from $4.5 million to $5.2 million. He now ranks No. 2 in the On3 NIL 100 – the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation – trailing only teammate Shedeur Sanders.

Both Sanders and Hunter will play in the Alamo Bowl later this month, Coach Prime said. Colorado will take on BYU Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET.