"Winning the Heisman is hardest"- Travis Hunter's new guest shares why college football's top honor is difficult to achieve

On October 24, Charles Woodson appeared as a guest on Buffs star Travis Hunter’s podcast. The former Michigan Wolverines star and Hall of Famer discussed Woodson's most challenging career moments. Woodson remains the only purely defensive player to have won the Heisman Trophy in 1997.

When Hunter asked, “You were one of four people to win a Heisman, a Super Bowl, and an NCAA championship. Which one was the hardest?” Woodson quickly replied:

“I would say winning the Heisman is the hardest just because it just doesn't happen,” he explained. “It doesn't happen for the defensive side of the ball.”

Reflecting on Michigan’s strength as a team, Woodson said that he had talented teammates. Not only that but also a great coaching staff and a strong program were essential to securing the Heisman.

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Charles Woodson shared his Heisman-winning journey with Travis Hunter

Woodson shared a memorable story about Michigan’s intense season, particularly a close call against Iowa. He recalled a moment when Iowa’s Tim Dwight returned two punts:

"I want to say he ran like two punt returns back or something crazy. They went up on us and that was a game that we had to grind back and fight to help keep our undefeated season alive at that point. That one, man, that was a tough road," Woodson said.

That year, Michigan had its sights set on the Rose Bowl, with the Ohio State game looEcming as a pivotal challenge. As Woodson reflected on the Heisman season, he emphasized how rare it is to win as a defensive player.

He said, "It's one of those years you have where you never really know how it's going to turn out, but once things start rolling, you start feeling that confidence. Then things start to fall into place."

In the current season, Colorado coach Deion Sanders recently confirmed that Travis Hunter would return to the field in the Buffaloes’ Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bearcats. This comes after Hunter’s limited play in Week 8 against the Arizona Wildcats, where he recorded two receptions for 17 yards.

The team defeated the Arizona Wildcats with a decisive 34-7 victory, which boosted their record to 5-2 for the season. The Buffaloes are well-positioned, especially with Hunter’s anticipated return.