Deion Sanders stresses importance of keeping Travis Hunter healthy: 'I got to take care of him'

One of the most electrifying players in college football will take the field Thursday night. Colorado two-way sensation Travis Hunter will look to build on his strong debut season in Boulder, serving as both Shedeur Sanders’ top target and an anchor of the defense.

By playing both sides of the ball, though, Hunter’s health becomes a concern. That’s why Deion Sanders said he’s going to make sure the Buffaloes protect the former Five Star Plus+ recruit.

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Hunter missed time last year after suffering a scary injury against Colorado State, but still showcased his ability to play both cornerback and wide receiver – something Coach Prime did during his NFL career. But there’s also a need for balance, and Sanders said he’ll know when Hunter needs a break.

“We want him to stay healthy,” Sanders said on ESPN’s College Football Countdown ahead of kickoff vs. North Dakota State. “We’re gonna protect him a little bit more. But Travis is a dawg, man. He just wants to play. He don’t want to come out of the game. I’m gonna try to make him come out of the game so he can get some rest because we have more depth defensively at the cornerback position, as well as the receiver position.

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“And I know him like a book, so I know when he’s a little winded. He won’t say it – he would never say it. But I got to take care of him.”

Hunter cemented himself as a key piece of Sanders’ plan at Colorado despite missing three games due to his injury. On offense, he hauled in 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns while adding 30 tackles and three interceptions on the defensive side.

That skillset makes him a unique player when it comes time to talk about the NFL Draft. But staying healthy is going to be essential if Hunter wants to continue playing both sides of the ball at the next level.

“He’s a three-way player,” ESPN’s Matt Miller said of Travis Hunter. “But I do think at some point, he’ll be really forced by NFL teams to make a decision. We saw last year, he was playing more snaps than anyone in college football early in the season. And then, he had an injury – not related to his playing time – and he had to miss multiple games. So I think Step 1, he’s got to prove he can stay healthy. He’s not a big guy. He’s an undersized player.

“And then, I think that ability to just hone in on one position. To say, I’m gonna work on understanding the intricacies of the wide receiver position or the technique of the corner position. He’s gonna have to make that decision. But he is a playmaker where you want the ball in his hands.”