As the Texas Tech football team prepares to host Colorado on Saturday, receiver Josh Kelly has a little bit of an early scout on the Buffaloes and one of their Heisman Trophy candidates in Travis Hunter.
Kelly faced off with Hunter, Deion Sanders and Colorado last season while a member of the Washington State Cougars. The 6-foot-1 sixth-year senior recalls that the Buffs didn’t have Hunter lined up against him too much in that late November game, though they probably should have.
Wazzu walked away with a 56-14 rout of Colorado and Kelly had six catches for 130 yards in the victory. Another matchup with Colorado on the horizon, the competitive nature of Kelly wants to see Hunter lined up across from him more this time around.
“Why would you not?” Kelly said. “You want the best people on you. Best on best. But whatever their game plan is, that’s on them. We focus on what we got going on, not anything else.”
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Hunter is among the favorites to win the Heisman, awarded to the nation’s top player. His versatility has been on display throughout the year, and Texas Tech players and coaches alike have lauded him.
“He’s a generational player,” Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said. “… I know there’s guys that’s been able to play both sides of the ball, but this guy’s gonna take over 100 snaps and play at an elite level, as good as anybody in the country.”
Kelly needs the Big 12 in receptions (68) and is fourth in yardage (757). Just ahead of the Texas Tech receiver in yardage is Hunter, who’s third in the conference with 757.
Nationally speaking, Hunter is 17th and Kelly is 18th in receiving yards.
“Elite athlete,” defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said of Hunter. “Really, really good football player and the fact that he does it on both sides is unbelievable. To play as hard as he does, he’s a unicorn.”
Jacob Rodriguez, reigning conference defensive player of the year, said the task for the Texas Tech linebackers like himself becomes a bit more centered on pass coverage against Colorado — especially with Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, also in the Heisman conversation, being among the top 10 passing offenses in the country.
“I think they are exactly as advertised,” Rodriguez said. “I think they’re very explosive. I think they are very good. The two guys that are in the Heisman race are there for a reason, and I really believe they are two of the best players in the country. A lot of respect for what they do. Everybody, top to bottom on the offensive side of the ball can go the distance.”
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Safety C.J. Baskerville said the key for the Tech secondary — which ranks second-to-last in defending the pass this season — will be tackling in space and avoiding big plays.
“Making them drive the field is something no offense really wants to do,” Baskerville said. “They love big plays and their offense definitely feeds off big plays. Backing able to tackle and just kind of bow up to these guys is gonna be the best way to do it.”
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