CU football notes: Travis Hunter continuing work on offense, defense for Buffs

BuffZone
PUBLISHED August 7, 2023 at 6:02 p.m. | UPDATED: August 7, 2023 at 7:54 p.m.
Through the first five days of Colorado’s preseason football camp, the Buffaloes’ social media channels have shown several highlights from sophomore Travis Hunter.
His best play so far?
“All of them,” he said. “Any play that I’ve made.”
Hunter doesn’t lack confidence, but he also backs it up every day – whether he lines up at receiver or cornerback.
One of the most versatile and talented players in the country, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hunter continues to work on being a dynamic two-way player for the Buffaloes this season.
“It’s pretty much I’ll go to offense one day and then defense the next day,” he said.
Arguably CU’s best cornerback and receiver, Hunter said the coaches really aren’t putting a limit on his snaps.
Offensive coordinator Sean Lewis said last week, “What we are going to ask him to do is where I’m going to continue to stress and test him to see where is that point to where his mental capacity can’t handle anymore.”
Hunter doesn’t put a cap on that. He said, “(The coaches) let me go to my limit and I don’t have a limit, so I pretty much play whatever I want.”
In doing that, Hunter is also proving to be a leader by example for the Buffs – at two positions.
“I got thrown in a leader spot since I was out of high school so it’s pretty much I’ve got to be a leader no matter where I’m at,” he said.
Ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the country coming out of high school in 2022, Hunter played last year at Jackson State before transferring to CU. He’s already earned a lot of preseason hype and he’s ready to live up to the expectations.
“I pretty much block all that stuff out until it’s time to go,” he said. “I’ll pay attention to that stuff after the season, after I do what I’ve got planned for myself.”
Backfield rotation
Running back might be CU’s deepest position, but the Buffs are striving to find a dynamic duo to lead the way.
“We want two guys that can carry the load,” running backs coach Gary Harrell said. “We’ll see who those two guys are.”
Transfers Alton McCaskill IV (Houston), Kavosiey Smoke (Kentucky) and Sy’veon Wilkerson (Jackson State) have racked up a combined 4,821 rushing yards in their college careers. They’re joined by true freshman Dylan Edwards, and returning Buffs Anthony Hankerson and Charlie Offerdahl.
Competition for carries will be tough.
“I’ll tell you right now the top four,” Harrell said. “It’s definitely Alto, Smoke, Dylan Edwards and Hankerson – and Charlie is right there with those guys, as well. It’s in no particular order.”
Harrell mixes up rotations in practice, however, “so they don’t get complacent.”
“We want the competition to continue all the way up to Sept. 2 (when the Buffs face TCU), but we want the best two backs,” he said. “We’ll take the next two weeks to find out who those guys are.”
McCaskill was the AAC rookie of the year in 2021 but missed last season with a knee injury. He’s been in a non-contact jersey so far, but the Buffs are hoping that will change soon.
“Coach Prime wants that done right now until he gets confidence in what he’s doing,” Harrell said. “We brought him here to be the guy. He has the experience, he has the explosiveness that we’re looking for. He’s a bigger back. But we’ve got to get him to the point where physically he can do it.”