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We’re going to need a bigger Legacy Hall...

Buffaloes two-way superstar Travis Hunter had himself a night on Thursday, taking home three major Player of the Year awards at ESPN’s College Football Awards.

Hunter snagged the Bednarik, Biletnikoff, and Walter Camp Awards for his amazing 2024 season. All those trophies mean vastly different things and are some of college football’s most prestigious postseason awards, so allow us to break down what they all mean.

The Chuck Bednarik Award, named after the legendary UPenn linebacker and center, is awarded annually to the best defensive player in all of college football. Hunter’s four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and ability to lock up an entire side of the football field proved enough for him to take home this prestigious award.

Interestingly, Hunter wasn’t even named a finalist for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. How can somebody be named Defensive Player of the Year and not earn the Player of the Year Award at their specific position? That’s a good question, and something that Colorado fans have been annoyed about over the last month.

All is well that ends well though, as Colorado head coach Deion Sanders gave Hunter his Thorpe Award that he won in 1988 at Florida State. Hunter ended up getting his Thorpe Award, although through very unconventional means.

Hunter also took home the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the best wide receiver in all of college football. Although Colorado has had a history of great receivers with the likes of Michael Westbrook, Charles Johnson, and Laviska Shenault Jr. coming out of Boulder, Hunter is the first Buffalo to win the Biletnikoff. Hunter is also the first player in the history of college football to win both the Biletnikoff and a major Defensive Player of the Year award, only adding to his legend.

Last but not least, Hunter was named Walter Camp Player of the Year, one of two major national Player of the Year awards outside of the Heisman Trophy. Rashaan Salaam is the only other Buffalo to win the Walter Camp, who was awarded the trophy in 1994. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Salaam also won the Heisman Trophy that season. Hunter is also the first season in college football history to win the Walter Camp after being named to the offensive AND defensive All-American team.

The only major trophy that Hunter didn’t walk away with was the Maxwell Award, the other major non-Heisman Player of the Year award outside of the Walter Camp. In 1994, Salaam also won the Walter Camp and not the Maxwell, which was given to Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins. Perhaps history will repeat itself exactly 30 years later.

Other major awards that Hunter has won announced prior to Thursday’s award show include the Paul Hornung Award, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, and the Ronnie Lott Award.

We may need a bigger Champions Center to fit all of Hunter’s new hardware after we’re all said and done with awards season...

Congrats, Travis! We’re so glad you came to Boulder and chose to be a Buffalo!

by RylandScholes
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A very good amen ahead of Saturday...

Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter has been name Associated Press Player of the Year for his efforts in 2024, the AP announced Thursday morning.

By now, everyone knows of Hunter’s heroics in Boulder. The hybrid wide receiver/cornerback has excelled on both sides of the football for the Buffaloes, reeling in over 1100 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns this season, along with four picks and 11 pass breakups on defense.

Hunter has already been awarded the Paul Hornung Award for the second consecutive year, along with the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Award and Ronnie Lott Defensive Player of the Year Award, given to the nation’s top defenders. Hunter is a finalist for the Blitnikoff, Bednarik, Walter Camp, and Maxwell Awards, and most importantly, the Heisman Trophy.

All this to say, why is it important if Hunter wins AP Player of the Year? Does it even matter ahead of the Heisman ceremony? We’ve got bigger fish to fry, right?

Simply put, yes, it does matter.

Winning AP Player of the Year (PotY, for short) is an extremely good omen ahead of Saturday’s Heisman ceremony. The last eight recipients of the AP PotY have all gone on to win the Heisman, along with 22 of the previous 26 recipients. The last player to receive the award and not win the Heisman was Christian McCaffrey’s final season at Stanford. (And he probably should have won the Heisman that year, anyway...)

The other players to win the AP PotY and not the Heisman are Josh Heupul in 2000 at Oklahoma, Rex Grossman in 2001 at Florida, Brad Banks in 2002 at Iowa, and Ndamukong Suh in 2009 at Nebraska.

Hunter coming away with AP PotY means that Saturday’s Heisman ceremony in New York City should be a lot less stressful for Colorado fans. As of now, Hunter is a heavy favorite to win the trophy, with odds of -2000 that he leaves NYC with Colorado’s second Heisman.

Also of note, Hunter was named the AP’s Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

As the accolades continue to rack up for Hunter, Ralphie Report will keep you updated as news breaks! Be sure to keep up with us to ensure you don’t miss anything.

by RylandScholes
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Hopefully one of many trophies

Paul Hornung is an All-American story. During his years at Notre Dame, 1953 - 1957, he played fullback, halfback (those were bigger deals in the 50s), defensive back, quarterback and pretty much everything else. His claim to fame is the 1956 season, when Hornung led Notre Dame in rushing yards, passing yards and also punted. He was 1st in passes defended and second in tackles.

Notre Dame went 2-8 (who says the Heisman goes to the best team).

Now, Travis Hunter has become the only player in the 70ish years since to win the award in back to back seasons. It’s easy to why. Now that we have modern roster sizes, it’s pretty much unheard of for players to play full time on both sides of the ball. Hunter does so. Not only does he play both sides of the ball, he is the best player on the field on both sides of the ball.

That has literally not happened in modern college football. Ever.

He is one of one. Well, I guess with two Hornung awards, he’s two of two.

college football's most versatile player

TRAVIS HUNTER.

Help us congratulate 12 on becoming the first ever BACK TO BACK Paul Hornung Award Winner@TravisHunterJr x #HE12MAN pic.twitter.com/4rlXNze5g2

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) December 11, 2024​

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Congratulations, Travis!

by Jack Barsch
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Colorado’s kicking woes will be no more.

After a tough year for the Buffaloes’ kicking unit, Coach Prime is beginning to revamp CU’s kickers rooms completely.

To get things started, Prime is bringing in Tennessee recruit Elliott Arnold, one of the top kickers from the Class of 2025.

100% Commited!! #SkoBuffs @McCallieFB @JoelBradford_4 @cosimp4real @JamesWilhoit25 @watson_kelcey @DeionSanders @CoachBox6 @theyoungcoach @CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/9hEyQhYPdA

— Elliott Arnold (@ElliottArnold12) December 11, 2024​

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Arnold is headed to Boulder from McCallie High School in Chatanooga, where he drew significant interest from Colorado, TCU and Josh Heupel’s staff in Tennessee. Rated as a five-star recruit from Kohl’s Kicking Camps, Arnold is bringing his cannon for a leg to Boulder.

Colorado still has kickers Alejandro Mata and Jace Feely for another year of eligibility, but adding a kicker like Arnold to the team would help fix up Colorado’s kickoff unit. Mata doesn’t place kick and Feely and Colorado’s other kickers have had trouble kicking the ball into the endzone for touchbacks for the last two seasons.

“We’ll have touchbacks next year, I’ll promise you that,” Sanders told the media after CU’s 52-0 win over Oklahoma State.

With the help of Arnold, Prime’s promise is one step closer to fact. At Kohl’s Kicking Camp, Arnold kicked multiple balls through the back of the endzone, including a 67-yard kick with 3.4 seconds of hang time.

Expect Colorado to bring in more kickers throughout the offseason, both through the transfer portal or high school recruiting ranks. For now, Arnold is a good start and a great piece for the future of the Buffs.

by RylandScholes
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One of Colorado most productive men in the trenches is hitting the portal

It took a full 48 hours after the official opening of the transfer portal for the Colorado Buffaloes to lose a key player. Defensive end Dayon Hayes has entered the portal and will play elsewhere next season, as reported by On3 Sports on Twitter.

Hayes came to Boulder from Pitt in 2024, playing in all of CU’s first four games before suffering an undisclosed injury ahead of the Buffs’ matchup with UCF in Orlando and sitting for the remainder of the season.

In Hayes’ four games as a Buffaloes, he started all four, tallying 16 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 2 sacks.

Hayes was instrumental in Colorado’s defensive line emerging as one of the most underrated units in the nation, especially early in the season. Colorado will once again need to hit the portal, much like they did last season, to find some established pass rusher to reload for 2025.

Best of luck wherever you land, Dayon!

by RylandScholes
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