Travis Hunter reportedly on track to return for Colorado against Stanford
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Travis Hunter, one of college football’s most dynamic players, is on track to return to the field Friday night when Colorado hosts Stanford.
The two-way star has been out since a Sept. 16 game against Colorado State, when a nasty hit sent Hunter to the hospital with a lacerated liver. CU coach Deion Sanders said a week ago that he would like Hunter to remain out through Colorado’s bye week (Oct. 21) but, on Tuesday, said there was “a tremendous chance” Hunter would be available against the Cardinal.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Friday morning that Hunter will indeed attempt to give it a go Friday night.
Per Thamel, Colorado coaches will monitor him in the pregame to make sure he’s ready, but the expectation is that Hunter will play. Hunter is expected to be on a snap count throughout the game, but he will once again feature on both sides of the football for the Buffs.
Hunter has 16 catches for 213 yards as a receiver on offense this season. On defense, he has 9 tackles, 2 pass breakups, and an interception.
In the season-opening win over TCU on the road, Hunter had 11 catches for 119 yards as well as an interception, becoming the first FBS player in more than two decades to have 100 yards receiving and an interception in the same game.
Hunter also played more than 140 snaps in that TCU game. He played more than 120 combined snaps a week later against Nebraska.
He returned to practice this week, though he has been itching to play since Colorado lost to Oregon earlier this year. Sanders said he doesn’t want Hunter to be a liability from a fitness standpoint, but he has no doubts about the mindset coming back from a serious injury.
“He has protection on to secure those areas, but the game is the game. The game is a violent game, it’s a vicious game, it’s a very physical game,” Sanders said. “But Travis is also physical.”
Colorado faces Stanford Friday night at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
