Travis Hunter Wins Biletnikoff, Bednarik Awards; Impresses Fans as Top WR, Defender

Travis Hunter, Colorado's two-way standout, was recognized for his efforts at both cornerback and receiver.

Hunter was the recipient of the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to college football's top defensive player. He became the first member of the Buffaloes to earn the honor.

He later earned the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in college football:

While operating as Colorado's No. 1 receiver throughout the year, the 21-year-old also started on the boundary in all 12 of the team's contests.

Fans were impressed with his accomplishment.

Hunter racked up 32 tackles, four interceptions, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. His 11 passes defensed were also the most among all Big 12 players in 2024.

Hunter's ability to force turnovers at key points in Colorado's victories throughout the year helped the team finish with a 9-3 record and improve upon a 4-8 mark in 2023, which included a forced fumble that sealed a 38-31 win over Baylor on Sept. 21.

On Thursday, he won the award over finalists such as Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Carter's 20 tackles for loss led the Big Ten, whole Downs racked up 62 total tackles for the Buckeyes in 2024.

Hunter's Bednarik Award victory wasn't met with unanimous approval, though.

As for his Biletnikoff victory, he showcased his ability to make contested grabs and rack up yards after the catch in 2024. His 14 receiving touchdowns and 1,152 receiving yards ranked No. 2 and No. 6 among all wideouts in the country, respectively.

Hunter also finished the year with a conference-leading 92 catches.

With his wins on Thursday, Hunter continued to add some more hardware to his collection. He previously earned the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Paul Hornung Award and the AP college football player of the year.

He's also been selected as a 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist.

While it remains to be seen if he'll earn Heisman honors, he was still selected as college football's best receiver and top overall defensive player.