BOULDER, Colo. — Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter exited the Buffaloes’ 31-28 loss to No. 18 Kansas State on Saturday night time due to a proper shoulder damage and didn’t return.
Hunter, a Heisman Trophy contender, appeared to maintain the damage on a success by Kansas State security Daniel Cobbs after he hauled in a 14-yard reception throughout the second quarter. Hunter went to the locker room to have the damage evaluated and returned to the sideline early within the third quarter.
Coach Deion Sanders didn’t have an replace on Hunter’s damage afterward and stated there was no dialogue throughout the second half about having Hunter return to the sport.
Hunter, a preseason All-American and a projected first-round NFL draft decide, leads the Buffaloes with 587 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns on 49 catches. He additionally has 17 tackles, three move breakups and two interceptions on protection. He performed 23 snaps on offense and 21 on protection within the first half, recording three catches for 26 yards plus one deal with.
Hunter was one in every of 4 Buffaloes large receivers who went down due to an damage Saturday. Jimmy Horn Jr., the staff’s second-leading receiver with 347 yards this season, exited the sport within the second quarter due to an unspecified damage. Omarion Miller put up a team-high 145 receiving yards on eight catches but additionally left due to an damage, as did Terrell Timmons Jr.
“Actually, dropping Travis and Jimmy and others was large as a result of they seem to be a important a part of our staff, a significant a part of our id,” Sanders stated. “They are a important a part of who we’re. In order that took a blow. That took rather a lot out of us.”
Regardless of these setbacks, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 388 yards and three touchdowns on 34-of-40 passing and led two fourth-quarter landing drives to rally the Buffaloes from a 10-point deficit and put them in place for this system’s first residence win over an AP High 25 opponent since 2019.
Redshirt freshman backup Colton Hood changed Hunter at cornerback and made a game-changing play late within the fourth quarter. Kansas State, main by three with 4:07 left, opted to go for it on fourth-and-6 from Colorado’s 31-yard line. Avery Johnson’s move was deflected and intercepted by Hood, who returned it 59 yards. Two performs later, Shedeur Sanders related with LaJohntay Wester for an 11-yard landing to seize the lead.
Kansas State took the lead again in simply three performs, with a 34-yard catch and run by DJ Giddens instantly adopted by a 50-yard landing from Johnson to Jayce Brown. Giddens accounted for 220 yards from scrimmage.
Shedeur Sanders obtained another likelihood to guide a profitable drive however was stopped on fourth down when a deep move to Will Sheppard fell incomplete and officers didn’t name defensive move interference.
“I do not know what transpired on the finish,” Deion Sanders stated. “It regarded prefer it was move interference to me. However it was robust. I did not wish to finish that approach.”
Deion Sanders stated he hoped to have Hunter and the Buffaloes’ injured gamers again quickly however wouldn’t rush them again. The 4-2 Buffaloes are on the highway subsequent Saturday to face 3-3 Arizona.
“Generally if you lose in life, you get your butt kicked and also you simply gotta take it,” Deion Sanders stated. “However typically you lose and also you say, ‘Dang, we should always’ve received that. We should always’ve had that.’ And that was a kind of sort of video games. That is not taking something away from our opponent, as a result of they performed their butts off and so they’re within the locker room proper now celebrating and having an excellent time. They deserve it. However for us, we simply felt like we let that one slip away.”