Right now, Florida State could use either one. And they almost had him.

Hunter had verbally committed to FSU as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 signing class. But on National Signing Day in December 2021, he surprisingly chose coach Deion Sanders and Jackson State, an HBCU that immediately shot into the national spotlight with his signing.

Now he and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, are both Heisman Trophy candidates at Colorado after starting out at Jackson State. Why did he decide to decommit to FSU? He talked about it on ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday.

Travis Hunter on Why He Picked Deion Sanders Over Mike Norvell and FSU Football

Hunter committed to Florida State in March 2020 when he was still an unranked prospect. But his stock quickly rose and he eventually became a five-star prospect with offers from some of the biggest programs in the country, including Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma. In the years that followed, though, Hunter continued to say that those other teams came in too late and that he had committed to FSU, who would have their first No. 1 recruit by the 247 Sports composite rankings since linebacker Ernie Sims in 2003.

But at the last minute, Hunter changed his mind and made the unprecedented move to a historically black college. Sanders, himself a two-way football star, was the difference, Hunter said Saturday on College GameDay.

“Yeah, it was definitely a big factor,” Hunter said before his Buffaloes played Nebraska. “I mean, he said he was going to give me that opportunity. You know, other coaches said they were going to package me, and I didn’t want that. I can’t just have a package, I have to be in the game. I just knew Coach Prime was going to let me shine, so I took my chance.”

Hunter said at the time that he made the change because he wanted to be a part of the HBCU tradition, citing football greats Jerry Rice, Doug Williams and Walter Peyton. “Historically black colleges and universities have a rich history in football,” he said on social media after the announcement. “I want to be a part of that history and more, I want to be a part of that future. I’m making this decision so that I can show others the way, make it a little easier for the next player to recognize that HBCUs can be everything you want them to be and more: an exciting college experience, a vital community and a life-changing place to play football.”

It was thought that NIL deals also paved the way for Hunter to go to Jackson State. Sanders also worked as a content creator for Barstool Sports and there were rumors that Hunter was promised a seven-figure deal with Barstool as part of the signing package. Sanders has called those rumors false.

How Florida State responded to Travis Hunter’s withdrawal

The move devastated Mike Norvell’s recruiting class, with fans sharing their outrage on social media, including at least one fan who burned his Deion Sanders FSU jersey.

Longtime FSU fan burns his Deion Sanders jersey after Travis Hunter flip

Longtime Florida State Seminoles fan Daniel Grant set his souvenir Deion Sanders jersey on fire after Sanders’ Jackson State betrayed the Noles’ best player.

Democrat from Tallahassee

“It’s unfortunate that he (Hunter) decided to turn around, but this is the season we’re in and everything is on the line, from zero to facilities to the ability to win championships, etc.,” said Charlie Ward, the 1993 Heisman Trophy winner and a two-sport star who played in the NBA.

“I’m a big believer that people make decisions and when you’ve done everything you can do, you have to live with the outcome. I know FSU lost a valuable recruit who could have been a great addition. But they’re going to continue to find the next best player to help develop into the type of player that will help them compete for championships.”

Travis Hunter Stats, Heisman Odds

Hunter’s first collegiate game was against another Tallahassee team, Florida A&M. Jackson State defeated FAMU 59-3 to start the 2022 season, with Hunter breaking up two passes on defense (he did not play on offense). For the season, he had 18 catches for 190 yards and four touchdowns, while making 19 tackles and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD.

He then headed to Colorado when Deion Sanders took over as coach there in 2023. Hunter immediately got started on both ends of the field, making 11 catches for 119 yards and an incredible interception in his first game against TCU, who had been in the national championship game the season before. Overall, he had 57 receptions for 721 yards and five TDs in 2023, with 31 tackles and three INTs. He has been on the field 1,007 times in nine games.

To start 2024, Hunter had seven catches for 132 yards and three scores in a win over North Dakota State. He also made three tackles while playing 134 of 136 snaps in the game. He has the sixth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy at +1500, according to BetMGM, ahead of teammate Shedeur Sanders (+2500).

FSU, meanwhile, is 0-2 after a pair of surprising losses to Georgia Tech and Boston College. They have this week off before returning to Tallahassee on September 14 to play Memphis.

Contributors: Curt Weiler, Democrat from Tallahassee