Colorado’s Travis Hunter is a rare talent and on Thursday he joined some rare company.

The Buffaloes’ star cornerback/receiver was named first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and The Sporting News. He was first-team in the “athlete” position by The Sporting News and first-team all-purpose for AFCA.

Earlier this week, Hunter was named first-team All-American by the Associated Press and the Football Writers Association of America.

With those honors, Hunter is just the 31st consensus first-team All-American in CU history and the first since offensive tackle Nate Solder in 2010. To be considered a consensus All-American, a player must be chosen by at least three of the five publications utilized by the NCAA: AP, FWAA, AFCA, The Sporting News and Walter Camp.

Hunter just missed out on being a unanimous All-American when he was not included on the Walter Camp team, which is the only one of the five that does not have an all-purpose, flex or athlete position on its team. CU has had just five unanimous All-Americans in its history, with tight end Daniel Graham (2001) being the most recent.

The first first-team All-American at CU by any publication since Solder, Hunter also won the Paul Hornung Award, which goes to the most versatile player in the country.

Hunter played 1,002 snaps from scrimmage (436 on offense, 566 on defense), as well as 30 on special teams in the nine games he played. He missed three full games and half of another with a lacerated liver.

Offensively, Hunter caught 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he had 30 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups.

A sophomore, Hunter was one of only three underclassmen nationally to earn consensus All-American honors, along with Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II and Georgia safety Malaki Starks.

Buffs add receiver from transfer portal

After starring at Vanderbilt for the past few seasons, Will Sheppard is ready for a new challenge.

On Thursday, Sheppard announced that he has verbally committed to come to Colorado for his final season of college football.

In four seasons with the Commodores, Sheppard caught 152 passes for 2,067 yards and 21 touchdowns. He ranks in the top eight in Vandy history in all three categories, including being tied for third in receiving touchdowns.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 198 pounds by Vandy, Sheppard led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns each of the past two seasons.

This year, Sheppard caught 47 passes for 684 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2022, he was second-team All-SEC after catching 60 passes for 776 yards and nine touchdowns.

During his career, Sheppard has played in 43 games, with 35 starts. He has started each of the 35 games in which he’s played over the last three seasons.

In addition to receiving, Sheppard has returned punts for the Commodores. Over the last two seasons, he’s had 131 yards on 18 punt returns (7.3-yard average).

Sheppard will help CU replace Xavier Weaver, who is graduating after leading the Buffs with 68 catches for 908 yards this season.

The Buffs are also losing another starter in Javon Antonio (17 catches for 209 yards) to graduation.