Travis Hunter made NCAA soccer historical past as the one primary ranked highschool recruit to decide to an HBCU out of highschool when he signed with Deion Sanders and Jackson State College in 2022. Now, heading into his second season with College of Colorado soccer, Hunter is considered one of three cowl athletes for probably the most anticipated online game return in historical past, with the upcoming launch of EA Sport’s School Soccer ’25 on July 19.
Hunter was thought to be a generational expertise popping out of highschool. A authentic number-one possibility on each side of the ball, he shocked the sports activities world by flipping his dedication from school soccer blue-blood Florida State to an FCS HBCU at Jackson State College.
Flipping Travis Hunter is taken into account one of many largest recruiting coups of all time and helped set up Deion Sanders as considered one of this period’s prime NCAA soccer recruiters.
“Coach Prime (Deion Sanders) modified my thoughts,” Hunter advised 60 Minutes about signing to Jackson State. “He let me know the way huge of an influence I can have on the individuals, and that is among the issues I wished — to shine the sunshine on our individuals ( African People) and shine the sunshine on HBCUs.”
Regardless of present process foot surgical procedure through the summer time earlier than his freshman season. Travis Hunter performed his first recreation at Jackson State within the season-opening Orange Blossom Basic in opposition to Florida A&M earlier than sitting out the primary half of the season.
Hunter made his return at homecoming and rapidly made an influence enjoying on each side of the ball. Intercepting two passes — together with a Decide-Six — and had 10 move deflections. Hunter additionally caught 18 passes, with 4 touchdowns throughout his solely season at Jackson State.
After following Deion Sanders to play with the College of Colorado soccer program, Travis Hunter confirmed why he’s thought of a generational expertise. On offense, he caught 58 passes for 721 yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively, Hunter had 30 tackles and three interceptions in his first 12 months enjoying on the energy 5 degree for Colorado soccer.
Heading into Hunter’s second season in Colorado, he’s thought to be one of many prime gamers within the nation. Incomes himself a spot as considered one of three cowl athletes for the extremely anticipated return of the School Soccer 25 online game from EA Sports activities.
EA Sports activities’ fashionable “NCAA Soccer” franchise was suspended after the 2014 version largely due to a high-profile lawsuit from former UCLA star basketball participant Ed O’Bannon. O’Bannon led an antitrust class-action lawsuit in opposition to the NCAA, EA Sports activities, and the Collegiate Licensing Firm (CLC) arguing that they have been wrongfully utilizing athletes’ photos commercially.
In 2019, California was the primary state to move a legislation permitting school athletes to be paid for using their names, photos, and likenesses, this turned often known as NIL, and by 2021, gamers throughout the nation have been allowed to signal offers for using their identify, picture, and likenesses, opening the door for the return of the enduring online game.
EA Sports activities has signed hundreds of NCAA soccer athletes to NIL offers for his or her look within the recreation. Every provide is for $600 and a duplicate of the sport. Extra outstanding gamers, like Travis Hunter, will likely be designated as EA Sports activities “ambassadors” and are anticipated to have inked extra profitable offers.
“We have been extra targeted on being on the duvet,” Hunter mentioned in a Yahoo Sports activities article. “We don’t care about NIL. It’s a dream come true.”
Though his time in HBCU soccer was brief, the influence of Travis Hunter’s signing with Jackson State will all the time be an necessary benchmark in HBCU soccer. As his star continues to rise as one of many prime athletes within the nation, his time on the yard in Jackson will stay on within the lore of school soccer as a second the place an HBCU was residence to among the finest gamers within the recreation.
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