Travis Hunter has the biggest workload in the country. (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Colorado football’s two-way Heisman candidate Travis Hunter left Saturday’s 31-28 loss to Kansas State with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.
According to brian howell in buff zoneHunter left the field twice with shoulder pain, and the second time he walked from the stadium to a medical center near the Colorado State Champions Center.
Hunter was ejected in the second quarter and did not return before halftime, at which point Kansas State led 14-7. His return was deemed questionable at the start of the third quarter, but he quickly appeared on the sideline in his uniform.
That was just part of the problem for Colorado, whose top two remaining receivers, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Omarion Miller, left the field with apparent injuries. Horn also received a questionable call after halftime, and Miller was ejected in the third quarter after his cleat apparently got caught on the field while being tackled.
None of the three receivers appeared in the game again.
Travis Hunter carries a huge burden.
Hunter has been part of the Heisman conversation thanks to his outstanding play on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he was 10th in receiving yards Saturday with 561 and tied for sixth with six receiving touchdowns. Defensively, he has defended three passes this year as a lockdown cornerback and recorded two interceptions.
His unique abilities make him one of the most difficult players in the country to replace, and he may have to if Colorado wants to emerge victorious on Saturday. The injury could also represent a workload risk for Hunter, who played a total of 620 snaps through the first five games of the season.
On Saturday, Hunter played in 44 of the first 45 offensive and defensive snaps of the game.
Football is notoriously a punishing game, and Hunter is essentially trying to play two games each week. He missed three games last season after getting injured in a dirty hit last season, and could be facing other issues now.
