Joel Klatt puts Travis Hunter in shocking company during impassioned speech

Joel Klatt put Travis Hunter in the sports world's G.O.A.T. category alongside Tiger Woods, Barry Bonds, and Michael Jordan.

“Travis Hunter is a unicorn, total unicorn, and I just want to appreciate what he is doing and what we’re seeing, because we’re never going to see this again,” Klatt said on the November 11 edition of "The Joel Klatt Show." “Okay, there comes a time when, as a sports fan, you’ve got to sit back and actually take stock in what you’re witnessing.

“I think a lot of us do that when we watch LeBron play, or those of us that got to watch Michael Jordan play, I’m sure this is how people felt when they watched Mickey Mantle play, or how I felt when I got to stand there when I was a minor league baseball player and watch Barry Bonds take batting practice, or when we watched Tiger Woods hit a golf ball, you know? Like there are things that we just know we’re never going to see again. And this is one of those things. Travis Hunter is one of one, period.” 

Travis Hunter's lore is unique in college football history

Hunter missed a month of action during the 2023 season and played on a smaller stage his first two seasons, but the fact that he has blossomed into an NFL-caliber corner and receiver puts him in unique history.

In a sport like football, there's many G.O.A.T.s for all the different positions. Joe Burrow or Cam Newton compete for a different crown than Hunter. Ditto for every trench position and skill position.

If Hunter can win the Heisman, he'll undeniably be an all-time great. Helping lift Colorado from bottom-feeder in the Pac-12 to Big 12 champion in a year is how he'll be fully deserving of being in the company Klatt mentioned.