Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it.

The Colorado Buffaloes’ two-way standout even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It’s one of the many awards he’s in line to win.

Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote.

Hunter kept piling up the hardware later Thursday night. He won the Walter Camp Award as player of the year along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for the best wide receiver.

“Couldn’t do what I do without my team,” Hunter said in an email on a trip to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. “So I view being up for these awards as team awards.”

Jeanty won the Maxwell Award as college football’s top player and the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back after leading the nation with 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns. Miami’s Cam Ward was the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year award winner with a nation-best 36 passing touchdowns along with 4,123 passing yards.

The coach of the year was Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, who led his team to the playoffs after being picked to finish 17th of 18 Big Ten teams.

South Carolina defensive end Kyle Kennard captured the Bronco Nagurski Trophy as the top defensive player, racking up 11 1/2 sacks and 18 1/2 tackles for loss.

Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin, an Alabama transfer, won the Rimington Trophy.

The Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back went to Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron, who led the Southeastern Conference with five interceptions.

The top punter was USC’s Eddie Czaplicki, who captured the Ray Guy Award. Louisiana’s Kenneth Almendares was picked as the top placekicker, winning the Lou Groza Award.

Georgia’s Jalon Walker won the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker, heading into the playoffs with 57 tackles, including 6 1/2 sacks and 10 1/2 tackles for loss. Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was the Outland Trophy winner as the top interior lineman.

Penn State’s Tyler Warren won the John Mackey Award given to the most outstanding tight end after setting school single-season records with 67 catches for 808 yards.

Rodriguez returning to West Virginia

Rich Rodriguez is returning to West Virginia for a second stint as head coach at his alma mater.

Athletic director Wren Baker announced the hiring on Thursday, 17 years after Rodriguez made a hasty exit for what became a disastrous three-year experiment at Michigan.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Rich Rodriguez and his family back home,” Baker said in a statement. “Coach Rodriguez understands what it takes to win at West Virginia, and I believe he will pour his heart, soul and every ounce of his energy into our program. I am convinced Coach Rodriguez wants what is best for West Virginia, WVU and West Virginia football, and I am excited about the future of our program.”

Rodriguez, who is the current coach at Jacksonville State, an architect of the spread offense and a polarizing figure in his home state, replaces Neal Brown, who was fired on Dec. 1 after going 37-35 in six seasons, including 6-6 this year.

Mullen to become UNLV’s next coach

Former Florida and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has agreed to lead UNLV’s 24th-ranked football program, two people with knowledge of the hire said Wednesday.