Travis Hunter, Henry Blackburn appear to reconcile after hit in Colorado-Colorado State

During Colorado’s game against Colorado State two weeks ago, Travis Hunter hit the turf after taking a huge hit from CSU defender Henry Blackburn. Hunter ended up going to the hospital as a result, and the reaction was swift — including threats against Blackburn and his family.

It appears there’s no bad blood between Hunter and Blackburn, though. In a video posted on Colorado State defensive lineman James Mitchell’s Instagram Wednesday night, the two shook hands. It looks like they’ve reconciled after the play, which came in the second quarter of Colorado’s thrilling victory over the Rams.

Blackburn also reposted it with a caption: “God has a bigger plan,” along with a praying emoji.

Looks like Travis Hunter and Henry Blackburn have no bad blood

(via James Mitchell’s IG) pic.twitter.com/B4NXJqSWu7

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) September 28, 2023

Hunter didn’t play last week against Oregon as he recovered from a reported lacerated liver suffered on the play. Sanders hinted he’d be out a few weeks, but Hunter said he “needs to play” this week against USC and won’t take no for an answer.

Henry Blackburn received threats in the aftermath of his hit on Travis Hunter

In the immediate aftermath of the play, Colorado State athletic director Joe Parker detailed harassment, including death threats, against Blackburn and his family on social media. He told ESPN’s Pete Thamel both Blackburn and his mother’s phone numbers were posted on social media, as were his campus address and his family’s address.

When Deion Sanders was asked about the situation, he made it clear he didn’t condone the threats and asked for people to pray for Blackburn.

“Henry Blackburn. I want you guys to record this and run with this,” Sanders said. “Henry Blackburn is a good player who played a phenomenal game. He made a tremendous hit on Travis on the sideline — you can call it dirty, you can call it he was just playing the game of football — but whatever it was, it does not constitute that he should be receiving death threats.”

Sanders continued to put the situation in perspective, pointing out that Blackburn is a college athlete trying to achieve his dream of going to the NFL. He added he and Hunter both forgave Blackburn.

“This is still a young man trying to make it in life, a guy that’s trying to live his dream and hopefully graduate with honors or a degree, committed to excellence and go to the NFL,” Sanders said. “He does not deserve a death threat over a game. At the end of the day, this is a game. Someone must win, someone must lost. Everybody continues their life the next day. Very unfortunate.

“I’m saddened if there is any of our fans on the other side of those threats. I would hope and pray not, but that kid was just playing the best of his ability and he made a mistake. So I forgive him. CU, our team forgives him. Travis, he’s forgiven him. Let’s move on. But that kid does not deserve that.”