Colorado's Travis Hunter named Paul Hornung Award finalist

Colorado's two-way star Travis Hunter was named as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award on Thursday. An all-Pac-12 list with ASU's Cameron Skattebo and Utah's Sione Vaki as the top three. The award is given to the most versatile player in college football.

Hunter has developed a great resume during his first year at CU and is the epitome of the award's basis. He has 45 receptions for 532 yards with three touchdowns. Add that to 26 tackles, three interceptions and four PDUs in seven games. The Buffs standout is the only FBS player with over 200 snaps on both sides of the ball.

Colorado has used Hunter to the best of his abilities. He transferred from Jackson State after committing to Deion Sanders and then followed his coach to Boulder. Hunter has been a huge part of the Buffs' success as a go-to receiver for Shedeur Sanders.

Coach Prime and the Buffs have dropped four straight after starting the season with a 3-0 record. They look to win out in the final two games and keep their postseason hopes alive. That starts with a Friday night affair at Washington State with a 10:30 p.m. kickoff on FS1.

Hornung is considered by many the most versatile player in the history of college and pro football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame and was the number one pick in the 1957 NFL draft. He played every position in the backfield during his career with the Irish, where he also punted, kicked, returned kicks, and played defensive back.

While in the NFL, Hornung was a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker. He was a member of four NFL championship teams as an all-pro halfback for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring 1959-60-61, set the single season scoring record in 1960 with 176 points, and was named League MVP following the 1961 season.

A national selection committee of 17 sports journalists and former NFL stars will vote on the Hornung Award winner, with a fan vote comprising the 18th vote. College football fans can vote once every 24 hours until Nov. 12 at midnight when the fan voting closes.