Former Heisman winner Champ Bailey admitted that Travis Hunter is ahead of where the ex-Georgia star was when he was in college. A Heisman win for No. 12 is expected on Saturday in NYC.
Bailey also shouted out Deion Sanders for doing what he said he would: unleashing Hunter at Colorado just as he did at Jackson State.
"Travis is probably more refined in coverage than I was at that age. He has been schooled better at this point -- I mean, his coach is Deion Sanders, one of the best to ever play corner. His hands are in the right place, his eyes are in the right place, and he understands route concepts and where the ball is going. His interceptions are often because he's going to the spot he knows where the ball is going," Bailey told ESPN.
"The big difference between me and Travis? People could see him coming more. A lot of guys play both ways in high school, return kicks and punts, play in the band at halftime. And they get to college and the coaches who recruited them -- who said they loved the versatility -- now tell them the second day of camp, 'You're here, you're here,' and that's it. But people could see Travis coming. He did it at Jackson State before transferring in 2023, and Prime said he was going to let him do it at Colorado. So there wasn't even a question from his coach."
Hunter is an overwhelming favorite to win the Heisman over Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, and Miami QB Cam Ward. Most see him coming as a top-five (at worst) NFL draft pick this April.
Bailey sees greatness in a player who perfected the two-way style he introduced in the 1990s. It's hard to see anything else as Hunter begins his final two weeks as an active member of Colorado's roster.