Fisherman: Travis Hunter Says He's Better at Bass Fishing Than Playing WR or CB

Travis Hunter may have won the 2024 Heisman Trophy for excelling at both wide receiver and cornerback, but he reportedly doesn’t believe football is his strongest sport.

According to The Athletic’s Jayna Bardahl, Hunter’s favorite sport involves his travels to fishing expeditions in locations like Texas and Florida.

Chuck Pippin, who has previously fished with Hunter, told Bardahl: “He was in the middle of landing a fish, and I joke around a lot, so I said, ‘Are you better at offense, defense or bass fishing?’ 

“He quickly answered bass fishing. That’s his passion.”

The two-way Colorado star has previously detailed some of his fishing expeditions on his YouTube channel, including a bass fishing competition with Colorado head coach Deion Sanders last summer.

After winning the Heisman and playing almost every snap for Colorado at wide receiver and cornerback last season, Hunter was asked on ESPN’s SportsCenter whether he dreamt of playing on offense or defense.

Hunter answered: “When I dream at night, I’m fishing on a boat.”

He was then gifted a golden reel by Al Noraker, former president of the fishing equipment company KastKing, to celebrate his victory.

According to Bardahl, Noraker had been so certain Hunter would win the December award that he had the reel made prior to Thanksgiving.

Noraker told Bardahl: “What I realized that day was not only is this guy a top-notch talent in college football, he’s just a heck of a good kid. Him and I couldn’t be any more different. I’m this old White guy from the ‘burbs, and here’s this world-class athlete, young Black guy from the South.

“But when we get on the boat, it’s like we’ve been doing it all our lives, and that’s all we care about. It’s just really fun.”

Hunter, who says he wants to play both offense and defense in the NFL, is listed as the No. 1 overall prospect on Bleacher Report’s latest 2025 NFL Draft Big Board. He's expected to be a top-five pick when the 2025 NFL Draft takes place in Green Bay this April.