When Travis Hunter Was Offered $1.5 Million NIL Money To Leave Deion Sanders’ Colorado Program

Sneha Singh | 30/09/2024
Travis Hunter.

Travis Hunter is winning over everyone’s heart in the Colorado Buffaloes and is already being considered a Heisman Trophy prospect. However, at the time, the cornerback cum wide receiver was being persuaded to leave Coach Prime for an enticing NIL deal.

Last year, Deion Sanders revealed that the young athlete was offered $1.5 million to enter the transfer portal. While the coach did not reveal the three teams who proposed the deal, there are rumors that Alabama, Ohio State, and Georgia were involved. In a conversation with 247Sports, Sanders shared, “People offered Travis Hunter a bag. About $1.5 million to try to lure him and buy him out of the transfer portal.”

The coach also revealed that Hunter didn’t give in to the tempting offer as he “is not the kind of guy that can be bought.” Sanders further praised the collegiate for his integrity and how he values relations and stability.

“He isn’t built like that. Travis is a relational young man that is built on relationships and stability. And that’s what he wanted and desired. That is why he decided to ride and stay with us.”

Sanders was the reason behind Hunter choosing to join Jackson State before transferring to Colorado. The athlete was initially committed to Florida State unofficially but at the last moment changed his mind to join the Tigers. Hunter himself confessed that Coach Prime was a “big factor,” as per USA Today.

“You know, other coaches said they would put in a package for me, and I wasn’t going for that. I can’t just have a package, I need to be in the game. I just knew that Coach Prime was gonna let me shine, so I took my chance.“

Hunter is certainly shining! The 21-year-old is being hailed as a future Heisman winner, all thanks to his double role in the team!

Travis Hunter, a dual-threat

The Colorado Buffaloes have been entering Week 6 with a promising score of 5-1. Hunter has emerged as an integral part of the franchise, excelling both in the offense and defense. In the latest matchup against the UFC, the WR scored nine receptions, 79 yards, and a touchdown. As the cornerback too, the athlete made his presence felt with two tackles and a glorious interception.

Hunter also had a hero moment when he dived at the 8:02 mark, intercepting the opponent quarterback. He celebrated the move by striking the Heisman pose.

As Travis Hunter continues to wow fans and analysts alike, the Buffaloes will be facing Kansas State on October 12 to defend their winning streak.

Post Edited By: Karthik Raman
Colorado Buffaloes Deion Sanders Travis Hunter

About the author

Sneha SIngh

Sneha Singh

Sneha Singh is an NFL journalist for The SportsRush. She is currently pursuing engineering, but her passion for writing and love for American football led her to join The SportsRush in 2024. With prior experience at various media outlets across genres, Sneha has been following the sport for the past three years. What started from coffee table banter with her friends arguing for their favorite teams, soon developed into a deep-rooted love for the sport. Before she knew it, Sneha was passionately following the offseason, tracking trades, draft prospects, and heartbreaking retirements. The two teams she holds closest to her heart are the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers. The last two years have been quite eventful for Sneha, as both of her favorite teams made it to the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons. However, her first live game ended in heartbreak when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Eagles on the grandest stage. The disappointment carried into the following year when the Chiefs beat the 49ers. Even Jason Kelce announced his retirement, which she wasn't thrilled about, but she appreciates that he's still connected to the league in various ways. When it comes to covering a story, it's not just the on-field action that excites Sneha but also the behind-the-scenes strategies, stories, and business dealings. She currently has over 400 articles to her name. Outside the NFL, Sneha finds solace in fiction. Whether it's books, films, anime, or video games, as long as there is a good story with creative expression, she's there for it. On the flip side, Sneha also likes to code and is an avid ML developer. What little time is left when she is not writing, consuming, or coding, Sneha likes to play the guitar.

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