Release by Louisville Sports Commission:
Louisville, Ky. – Dec. 6, 2023 – Colorado sophomore cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, an impact athlete who finished the regular season as the most prolific two-way player in FBS by averaging 119 snaps per game, was named winner of the 2023 Paul Hornung Award given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. The Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, is owned and operated by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC). LSC President and CEO Greg Fante made the announcement today.
Photo: Louisville Sports Commission
The Paul Hornung Award Selection Committee, comprised of 17 sports journalists and football experts from across the country, picked Hunter from among the three finalists announced on Nov. 16. An online vote powered by Texas Roadhouse accounted for the 18th vote. The 14th winner of the Paul Hornung Award and the fifth from the Pac-12, Hunter played five positions on defense where he averaged 66 snaps per game; he also played four skill positions on offense where he played 50 snaps per game. Despite missing three games due to injury, on offense Hunter finished second on the team with 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns; on defense, he tied for the team lead with three interceptions, recorded 31 tackles, led the team with five pass deflections and had two tackles for loss. He also played substantial time on special teams.
“I want to thank the Louisville Sports Commission for this Award,” Travis Hunter said. “Paul Hornung accomplished great things that I also want to accomplish, and to be given the award in his name is truly amazing. I’d like to thank all my teammates for their support and Coach Prime for the opportunity to play both ways and do whatever I can to help the Colorado Buffaloes.”
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders was effusive in his praise for Hunter. “Travis is a special player, a generational player, who has changed the game,” said Colorado Head Coach Sanders. “We had to find ways to utilize him to the best of his ability on both sides of the ball, where he could utilize his strengths and be a force. Thank you to the Selection Committee for seeing in Travis what we do, not only that he’s a tremendous player, but also a tremendous person. Travis hasn’t reached his full potential as of yet and his best is still to come.”
Primarily a wide corner, in several games this season Hunter was a standout on both sides of the ball. Against TCU, he caught 11 passes for 119 yards and made a key interception. Against Stanford, he played 154 snaps, caught 13 passes and made five tackles. He played 126 snaps versus Oregon, caught eight passes and made two tackles and deflected a pass. Against UCLA, he played 105 snaps, made two interceptions and had three receptions. Against Arizona, he caught five passes, made six tackles and had one pass breakup. In the season finale, in a tough road loss to Utah, Hunter played 103 snaps; on offense, he caught eight passes for 107 yards and a score; on defense, he made four tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Photo Cred: BuffZone
Season Stats:
All-purpose: 711 yards, 79.0 per game
Receiving: 57 receptions, 721 yards, five touchdowns
Touchdowns: Five
Defensive stats
- 31 tackles (23 solo, eight assisted)
- Two tackles for loss
- Three interceptions, -10 return yards
- Five pass breakups
Average snaps per game: 119.2 (one at fullback, four at tight end, 275 at slot wide receiver, 172 at wide receiver, 42 at linebacker, 11 at slot cornerback, 539 at wide cornerback, one at free safety, one on kick coverage, one on kick return, four on punt return, 22 on field goal/extra point)
All votes for the Paul Hornung Award are independently tabulated by regional accounting firm Dean Dorton, one of the largest accounting and financial advisory firms in Kentucky, with offices in Louisville and Lexington, Ky., and Raleigh, N.C.
The Louisville Sports Commission successfully launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son, who passed away in 2020, and to promote outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed.
