Deion Sanders: Travis Hunter's Jim Thorpe Award Snub 'Most Idiotic Thing' In CFB
Jackson State coach Deion Sanders has voiced his frustration over the snubbing of his star cornerback, Travis Hunter, from the Jim Thorpe Award. The award, which recognizes the nation's top defensive back, was given to Georgia's Kelee Ringo, even though Hunter had more interceptions and a higher passer rating allowed than Ringo.
Background
Hunter, a five-star recruit who transferred from Florida State to Jackson State in December 2021, had a standout season for the Tigers in 2022. He recorded four interceptions, 20 tackles, and seven pass breakups. Ringo, on the other hand, had three interceptions, 34 tackles, and 10 pass breakups.
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"It's the most idiotic thing I've seen in college football," Sanders said in an interview with ESPN. "There's no other way to put it. Travis Hunter is the best defensive back in the country, and he should have won the Jim Thorpe Award."
Sanders also pointed out that Hunter played in a more difficult conference than Ringo. Jackson State competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), while Georgia plays in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Analysis and Impact
Experts agree with Sanders that Hunter was snubbed. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic wrote, "It's hard to argue that anyone had a better season than Hunter at the cornerback position."
The snub is likely to further fuel the debate over the importance of statistics versus subjective factors in determining award winners. Some believe that Hunter's stats should have carried more weight than Ringo's, while others argue that Ringo's team success should have been taken into account.
Conclusion
The Jim Thorpe Award snub is a controversial decision that has sparked outrage from many in the college football community. It remains to be seen whether the award will continue to be held in high esteem or if reforms will be made to prevent similar controversies in the future.
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Deion Sanders: Travis Hunter's Jim Thorpe Award Snub 'Most Idiotic Thing' In CFB