Why KU cornerback Cobee Bryant says he’s ready to face Colorado’s Travis Hunter
Kansas Jayhawks cornerback Cobee Bryant has waited all season long for this game.
And now it’s nearly here: KU plays No. 16 Colorado on Saturday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
“This is one of the games the games we’ve been waiting on all season,” Bryant said. “Other than K-State, this was the other one — Colorado.”
Bryant’s anticipation goes beyond the excitement of one team playing another. He’s good friends with Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the son of coach Deion Sanders.
Bryant said he and Shedeur Sanders even exchanged some trash talk via text earlier in the week.
“He (Shedeur) told me to stay in man (coverage) because he (is) going to try to move around the pocket,” Bryant said.
A preseason All-Big 12 first-teamer as a defensive back, Bryant has had a good season. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed just one passing touchdown in 343 snaps. He also has four interceptions while holding opposing QBs to a 59.1 passer rating (per-game average).
He’ll need to keep up this level of play this week against the Buffs, when he will likely be matched up with two-way phenom and Heisman Trophy contender Travis Hunter.
As a wide receiver, Hunter has piled up 911 yards and nine touchdowns on 74 catches. That’s 30 more catches, 329 more receiving yards and three more receiving TDs than KU’s leader in each of those categories, senior wideout Luke Grimm.
Bryant is also familiar with Hunter, sharing that the two have played each other in CFB 25 a few times.
“Yes, yes, yes. I’m not gonna lie, (I’ve been extra motivated) and I’ve been waiting,” Bryant said of Saturday’s showdown. “I already marked this on my notes, I already know this is the game. I’ve been wanting this game all season. This is gonna be the game.”
Hunter also has Kansas coach Lance Leipold’s full attention.
“He’s just multi-talented in so many ways,” Leipold said. “He’s going to be a first-round pick, if not the first player taken. He’s favored to win the Heisman. He’s explosive. He’s a special athlete of our time. ...
“His ability to make you miss as an offensive threat or when the ball is in his hands makes him extremely dangerous. So it’ll be a big test on both sides of the ball for us.”
As good as Hunter is at catching passes, draft experts believe he could make an even better cornerback in the NFL. Playing defense this year as well as offense, he’s recorded 24 tackles, three interceptions and one forced fumble.
“He plays both ways, every snap,” Grimm said. “It’s extremely cool to see and he’s very good at both sides of the football. From a fan perspective, it’s cool to see someone do that at such a high level.”
Grimm knows Hunter is one of the most talented players he will have faced in college. Then again, Saturday is KU’s Senior Day and Grimm’s last home game as a Jayhawk.
So Grimm’s mindset ahead of Saturday’s game is somewhat different than Bryant’s.
“Honestly, it’s the same thing like every week,” Grimm said. “If it was a faceless opponent, that’s how we go about it. We are focused on us and what we know we can do best. We stick to that. If the other team plays this way, we are still going to play our ball.”
