Do you know what makes and breaks college football programs at the same time? It has to be the coaches. And guess who got lucky to have the best coach? It’s none other than Colorado Buffaloes. Now that the Buffs’ dual-threat Travis Hunter will be soon off to the NFL, his love and respect towards his HC Deion Sanders just got 100x more. The love and support make it difficult to break free from Coach Prime’s attachment. 

After all, Hunter owes the fame, and the money he has gathered so far in his college football journey to Deion and the other Colorado coaches. But is it only about money and fame? The Heisman race contender just got more lucky to be a Buff. 

Deion Sanders’ golden touch behind Travis Hunter’s riches

Besides his two-way skills on the gridiron, Hunter has found another identity for himself. He now gives a tough competition to other college football players, when it comes to NIL. As per On3’s NIL rankings, the Buffs’ dual threat is ranked No. 2 among college football players. That’s where he is now giving his teammate, Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders a tough competition. Hunter now has a NIL worth of $5.2 million. However, he would have been nothing had Deion not guided him to be on the right path. Now that he is the hero of his rags-to-riches story, the whole credit goes to Coach Prime. On The Pivot Podcast, when asked about how much he benefited from the coaching roster that is filled with HOFs, Hunter replied, “I probably say the coaches, without the coaches I wouldn’t be having no money in my pocket.”

After all, they are the ones who gave the players the right exposure to evolve. Here’s how Deion acted as the money magnet as Hunter confessed, “Being around Coach Prime just makes me so much money because he’s been there before. They understand where he’s coming from you.” So, thanks to the Buffs HC for setting up the stage as the dual-threat said, “All you got to do is go out there and perform and you got the lights on you. You just got to do your part. I just did my part and it helped me out a lot.” 

In 2024, brands like Michael Strahan Brand, American Eagle,  Outfitters, and United Airlines, flocked around him. But looks like beyond sports, Hunter also had Hollywood’s eyes on him! After all, he has been the chosen one to promote the Kraven the Hunter movie. Yes, the two-way star got enough chances to fatten his pocket and get all the fame. At the same time, Colorado made sure to show him some serious love.

Colorado’s final push for Travis Hunter’s Heisman race  

Well, we know how Hunter made the Buffs proud. After all, his resume speaks on his behalf. He came up with 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns in the regular season. Plus, gave his everything while playing 688 snaps on defense and 672 on offense. And the list continues. So, in a way, it was obvious that Deion and Co. would see Hunter in the Heisman race. 

However, it has been no easy ride. After all, the Buffs’ dual threat had to face strong competitors like Boise State Broncos’ Ashton Jeanty, Miami Hurricanes’ Cam Ward, and Oregon Ducks’ Dillon Gabriel. But not to forget, Hunter had something that the other three did not have- the Buffs’ back. So, the program had to do something special for their two-way phenom. That’s when they took Hunter’s Heisman campaign a notch higher.

The dual-threat was spotlighted on a massive billboard in Times Square, New York. What better place to capture Heisman voters’ attention than the flashy billboards and the crowded streets of the Big Apple? Hunter’s got the love, the money, and the spotlight. Now all eyes are on him to bag the bronze!