Colorado’s Travis Hunter Sidelined as a Precautionary Measure
In a move to protect their star player, Colorado’s coaching staff decided to keep Travis Hunter on the sidelines for the second half of Saturday’s game against Arizona. The Heisman Trophy contender had sustained a shoulder injury in the previous week’s game against Kansas State and was not at 100% for the matchup against the Wildcats.
A Valuable Asset on Both Sides of the Ball
Hunter’s importance to the team cannot be overstated. As a two-way player, he has been a key contributor to both the offense and defense. In the first half against Arizona, he caught two passes for 17 yards at wide receiver and recorded one tackle at cornerback. Despite playing only 13 snaps on defense, his presence was felt.
Coach Deion Sanders’ Concerns
After the game, coach Deion Sanders expressed his concerns about Hunter’s health. “Sore and banged up,” Sanders described Hunter’s condition. “Travis wanted to play. I don’t know if he was quite 100-percent ready, but a half of Travis is a whole of somebody.” Sanders praised Hunter’s competitiveness and willingness to play through pain, but ultimately decided to prioritize his safety.
The Decision to Sit Hunter
The decision to sit Hunter for the second half was made after he struggled to extend his body to reach a fade pass thrown to him during the game. Sanders recalled asking Hunter if he was okay and being met with resistance from the player. “I said, ‘Man, that’s not you. What are you doing? Are you OK?’” Sanders said. “And he didn’t want to come off the field, you know how he is.”
Hunter’s Season So Far
Despite missing the second half of the game, Hunter remains one of the top players in the country. He leads all FBS players in snaps played this season and ranked third in the Big 12 in receiving yards entering Saturday. With 49 receptions for 587 yards and six touchdowns, Hunter is a force to be reckoned with on the field.
Looking Ahead
As the season progresses, Colorado will need to balance their desire to win games with the need to protect their star player. With Hunter’s health a concern, the team will need to rely on other players to step up and fill the void. For now, the focus is on getting Hunter healthy and back on the field where he belongs.
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