Colorado football star Travis Hunter compared to modern sporting great

Colorado football star Travis Hunter was compared to another modern sporting great who plays on both sides of the ball at an elite level, Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani, a perennial Cy Young candidate who is also perennially at the top of the home run rankings, by ClutchPoints’ Shane Shoemaker.

The comparison, though, should scare Buffs fans since Shoemaker was making the point that Hunter could wear down in a similar way; though not specifically his arm like the Japanese slugger/ace.

“Rightfully so, (Hunter’s) considered the Shohei Ohtani of college football,” Shoemaker wrote. “But as we’ve now seen with Ohtani — playing both ways takes its toll on an athlete. Ohtani is now requiring his second Tommy John surgery once the Los Angeles Angels go into the offseason. Hunter plays a much more physical sport than Ohtani, where there’s really no comparison between baseball and football. It goes without saying that Hunter is an integral part of this team as he has been one of the cornerstone players to Sanders’ success as a coach, going all the way back to his recruitment. Playing close to almost 300 snaps through only two games has to be concerning to the Colorado football coaching staff, no matter how talented he is. With the beef of their schedule coming up at the end of the month with USC and Oregon, Colorado can’t afford to lose him.”

Colorado football cannot survive without Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders

Losing Hunter or the other Colorado football Heisman candidate, Shedeur Sanders, would be a death knell to the Buffs’ chances of making any noise during the 2023 season. Full stop.

CU’s quarterback depth is shaky at best and non-existent at worst. The receiving corps, while spectacular, loses luster if Hunter, or Xavier Weaver/Jimmy Horn Jr. for that matter, isn’t on the field to be a decoy to his teammates.

As long as Hunter and Sanders are on the field, the most far-fetched optimism is worthy of your energy. Without them? Things may look more like 2022 than anyone would want after seeing Coach Prime’s Buffs surpass their win total in two weeks.