Travis Hunter (American football)

Travis Hunter is an American football cornerback[1] for the Jackson State Tigers. A consensus five-star recruit in high school, he made headlines in December 2021 when he committed to Jackson State, becoming the highest-ranked prospect to ever commit to a HBCU or an FCS program.

Travis Hunter
Jackson State Tigers
PositionCornerback
ClassFreshman
Personal information
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career history
College
High schoolCollins Hill (Suwanee, Georgia)

High school career

A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Hunter moved to Georgia as an eighth grader.[2] He attended Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, where he played cornerback and wide receiver for the Eagles. As a sophomore, he led the county with seven interceptions while recording 49 receptions for 919 yards and 12 touchdowns.[2] As a junior, Hunter made eight interceptions and 51 tackles in addition to catching 137 passes for 1,746 yards and 24 touchdowns, earning MaxPreps Georgia Player of the Year honors.[3] He also set Gwinnett County single-season records in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns,[2] leading the Eagles to a 12–3 record and an appearance in the Class 7A state title game.[3]

As a senior, Hunter recorded 76 receptions for 1,128 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense and 23 tackles, four interceptions and a forced fumble on defense,[4] even after missing five games due to a mid-season ankle injury.[5] In the state title game, he made 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown, as well as a forced fumble, to cap off a perfect 15–0 record and Collins Hill's first state championship in school history.[6] In his final high school game, Hunter made 10 catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns in their 40–36 defeat to Washington state champs Graham-Kapowsin in the GEICO State Championship Bowl Series.[7] He also broke the Georgia state record in career receiving touchdowns, previously held by Braxton Hicks, with 48.[7]

Recruiting

Hunter was considered the number one overall recruit by both 247Sports.com and Rivals.com,[8][9] as well as number two by ESPN (behind Walter Nolen).[10] After having received a scholarship from Florida State in November 2019, he committed to the Seminoles on March 3, 2020, one day after making his first visit to the school.[11] He made his choice over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma, among others.[8]

On December 15, 2021, Hunter flipped his commitment to the Jackson State Tigers coached by Deion Sanders, a Florida State alum, in an unprecedented move.[4][12][13] He had notably visited the school the month before, attending their sellout Soul Bowl victory on November 20.[14] As the number one recruit in the nation, Hunter became the first five-star recruit to ever sign with a HBCU or an FCS program.[12] Dustin Lewis of Sports Illustrated called it "probably the most shocking decision in the history of college football recruiting" while Steve Wiltfong, the national director of recruiting for 247Sports.com, said it was "the biggest signing day moment in the history of college football".[4][13]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Travis Hunter
CB		 Suwanee, Georgia Collins Hill High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Dec 15, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    References
    1. "He's enrolled just as a CB in his official Jackson State Tigers' profile". gojsutigers.com.
    2. Hammock, Will (August 17, 2021). "SUPER SIX FOOTBALL: Collins Hill's Travis Hunter makes case as Gwinnett's best ever". Phelps County Focus. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
    3. "Travis Hunter named 2020 MaxPreps Georgia High School Football Player of the Year". MaxPreps. January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
    4. Lewis, Dustin (December 15, 2021). "BREAKING: No. 1 prospect Travis Hunter makes his college decision". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
    5. Lewis, Dustin (November 22, 2021). "No. 1 prospect Travis Hunter set to play in Georgia 7A state championship game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
    6. Friedlander, David (December 11, 2021). "Collins Hill caps perfect football season with first state championship". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
    7. Friedlander, David (December 18, 2021). "Collins Hill loses heartbreaker to Washington State champion in GEICO Bowl Series". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
    8. "Travis Hunter". 247Sports.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
    9. "Travis Hunter". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
    10. "Travis Hunter". ESPN. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
    11. Weiler, Curt (March 3, 2020). "2022 defensive back Travis Hunter Jr. commits to Florida State". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
    12. "Collins Hill's Travis Hunter signs with Jackson State". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
    13. Cobb, David (December 15, 2021). "Travis Hunter to Jackson State: In all-time stunner, Deion Sanders steals No. 1 prospect from Florida State". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
    14. Garcia Jr., John (November 22, 2021). "Deion Sanders, Jackson State Host Travis Hunter in Rare Visit for Top Recruits and HBCUs". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
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