Johnny Manziel: Travis Hunter is 'probably the best player in the country'

Johnny Manziel didn’t hide his thoughts about Colorado’s Travis Hunter, calling the wide receiver and defensive back is probably the best player in the country.

With that, Hunter should certainly be in the Heisman conversation, if not the winner of the award. Manziel sees the two-way star in New York by season’s end.

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What could hold Hunter back is the team’s lack of success, despite Colorado’s 3-1 record through the first third of the year. But, that shouldn’t matter.

“I think [Travis Hunter] is probably the best player in the country right now with what he’s doing week in and week out,” Manziel said on Action Network. “As a Heisman voter, you are looking for those guys who are the most outstanding players, and it doesn’t really matter where they are or what their team is doing.”

This season, Hunter has 37 catches for 472 yards, five touchdowns and 12.8 yards per catch. On defense, he has 14 total tackles, nine solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, two pass deflection and one forced fumble.

“Obviously, [Hunter]  is going to have enough buzz, and I think if his numbers are there and he continues to make the impact that he’s making, I would expect to see him in New York in December,” Manziel said.

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Hunter made one of the plays of the night against Baylor, forcing a fumble at the goal line in overtime to clinch the win. The highlight play not only boosted Hunter’s team to victory but further cemented his status as one of the best players in college football. 

During an appearance on SportsCenter, Paul Finebaum took a bold position on how Hunter’s jaw-dropping tackle affects his place in the Heisman Trophy race.

“That tackle there by Travis Hunter may have put him in the driver’s seat for the Heisman Trophy,” Finebaum said.

Evidently, oddsmakers still aren’t convinced. As of this report, Hunter has the eighth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, according to FanDuel. Miami quarterback Cam Ward leads all players, boasting +350 odds.