BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it.

The Colorado Buffaloes' two-way standout ( see: unicorn ) even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It's one of the many awards he's in line to win.

Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote.

Later Thursday, Hunter won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player.

“Couldn’t do what I do without my team,” Hunter said in an email on a trip to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. “So I view being up for these awards as team awards.”

Jeanty did win the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back after leading the nation with 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Georgia's Jalon Walker won the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker, heading into the playoffs with 57 tackles, including 6 1/2 sacks and 10 1/2 tackles for loss. Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was the Outland Trophy winner as the top interior lineman.

Penn State's Tyler Warren won the John Mackey Award given to the most outstanding tight end after setting school single-season records with 67 catches for 808 yards.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe won the William V. Campbell Award as the top scholar-athlete. Oregon leading tackler Bryce Boettcher captured the Burlsworth Trophy as the best player who started his career as a walk-on.

But the biggest winner was Hunter.

A player with his particular set of skills doesn't come around that often. He's a flashback to the days of Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. Or even his coach, Deion Sanders, a two-way star in the NFL.

The prospect of significant playing time on both sides of the ball is what led Hunter to join Sanders at Jackson State and why he followed Sanders to Boulder.

“Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I’m doing,” said Hunter, who's expected to be a top-five pick next spring in the NFL draft, possibly even the No. 1 overall selection. “He did it and knows what it takes — how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball.”

Want to fuel Hunter? Simply tell him he can't.

“I’m motivated when people tell me I can’t do something,” Hunter said. “That I can’t dominate on both sides of the ball. I want to be an example for others that anything is possible. Keep pursuing your dreams.”

Hunter helped the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the lone Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research.

Hunter has already won a second straight Paul Hornung award as the game's most versatile player. He's up for the Walter Camp (player of the year), Maxwell (most outstanding player), the Biletnikoff (best receiver) and Bednarik (top defensive player) awards.

And, of course, the Heisman, where he’s the odds-on favorite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can join the late Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado players to capture the Heisman. Salaam won it in 1994 after rushing for 2,055 yards.

Hunter wasn't a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to give his trophy to Hunter.

Hunter's high school coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a special player the summer of Hunter's freshman year. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning test for his players — run six 200-yard dashes with a minute of rest in between. Defensive backs had to complete each in under 32 seconds.

Hunter never even got winded. He played safety, cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season.

“I remember just talking to colleges the spring of his ninth-grade year and telling coaches that this kid’s going to be the No. 1 player in the country," recounted Gregory, who's now the coach at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Georgia. “They'd look at him and laugh at me, ‘What are you talking about? This scrawny kid? He’s not big enough.’ I was like, ‘Just watch. Just watch.'”

Hunter finished the regular season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced one crucial fumble, which secured an OT win over Baylor.

Overall, Hunter had 92 receptions and allowed 22. He hauled in 14 receiving TDs and allowed just one. He was responsible for 53 first downs and gave up just six. He was targeted 119 times by quarterback Shedeur Sanders & Co. but only 39 times by opposing QBs.

Hunter's likely final game in Boulder, a rout of Oklahoma State, was a three-touchdown, one-interception performance.

“I’m used to seeing him do all this spectacular stuff,” Shedeur Sanders said. “I’m used to all this stuff — you all are just now seeing it on national stage.”

Broncos, left tackle Garett Bolles agree on 4-year extension to protect rookie quarterback Bo Nix

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos signed left tackle Garett Bolles to a four-year extension on Thursday, locking up a big piece to protect rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Bolles has spent his entire career with the organization after being drafted out of Utah with the 20th overall pick in 2017. He has a chance this season to help the Broncos into the postseason for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season.

The Broncos (8-5) are currently in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. They can put some distance between them and Indianapolis on Sunday (6-7) with a win over the Colts.

After an up-and-down start in Denver, Bolles has developed into a dependable pass protector. He's allowed one sack and 24 quarterback pressures over 13 starts this season. What's more, his 4.9 percent quarterback pressure rate is the second-lowest mark among tackles with at least 200 pass blocking snaps this season, according to NextGen Stats.

With time to scan the field, Nix leads all rookies in completions (277), yards passing (2,842), offensive touchdowns (22) and passing touchdowns (17).

Bolles earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors after the 2020 season. On social media, Bolles posted: “Broncos Country, It’s been a great 8 years! Thanks for everything! And … I’m not leaving. The show goes on!”

Since 2017, Bolles has allowed the sixth-fewest sacks (36) among tackles with at least 3,100 snaps.

The extension of Bolles means the Broncos have all five starting offensive linemen on board through next season. Guard Quinn Meinerz agreed to four-year contract extension in July.

The Broncos also signed cornerback Patrick Surtain II to a four-year contract extension in September worth $96 million, including $77.5 million in guarantees. Linebacker Jonathon Cooper agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension in November.

The Broncos can take a big step toward breaking playoff drought with a win over the Colts

DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix's escape from football over the bye week naturally involved more football.

The Denver Broncos rookie quarterback watched his father coach in the Alabama state title game and his brothers (Caleb Nix at Clemson, Tez Johnson at Oregon) win conference championship games within moments of each other.

Now, it's back to the task at hand — helping the Broncos (8-5) end a long playoff drought. They can take a big step toward that goal with a win over Indianapolis (6-7) on Sunday. Entering Week 15, Denver is in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC, with the Colts right behind.

Should the Broncos emerge victorious, they have an 89% probability of making the postseason for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. Should they lose, it dips to 47%.

“It’s a group that I think understands that,” said Broncos coach Sean Payton, whose team has a chance to clinch a winning season for the first time since 2016.

This is desperate times for the Colts, too, who would see their playoff probability drop to 7% with a loss Sunday.

“This is the exact place I want to be at, at this point in the season,” Indy linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “We’re in December, playing a game that means something against an opponent that matters. The way I look at it, what will the narrative be after we win? What’s that moment going to feel like after you overcome such a challenge?

“Obviously, cameras, great team, playing great football right now and the bonus is it’s a great opportunity.”

Franklin and the Colts defense will be looking to corral Nix, who leads all rookies in completions (277), yards passing (2,842), offensive touchdowns (22) and passing touchdowns (17). Nix stressed that his team is locked in for the stretch run.

“Everybody’s into it,” Nix said of the playoff push. "Everybody’s excited to make this run here the last four games of the regular season. I think that’s a good sign of a good team when you have that edge to you. You don’t really need guys telling you to lock (in). You just kind of have that mindset. (We are a) very mature, focused and competitive team right now.”

His QB counterpart, Anthony Richardson, is locked in, too. He's going against a formidable Broncos defense led by Pat Surtain II and pass rusher Nik Bonitto. Denver's looking for a bounce-back performance after allowing Jameis Winston to throw for a Browns-record 497 yards passing and former Broncos wideout Jerry Jeudy to go for a career-best 235 yards receiving in Denver's 41-32 win just before the bye.

“It’s our game we have to play," Richardson said. “Go out there and execute each and every play, and just play our game.”

Line dance

Indy has been mixing and matching its offensive line starters ever since Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly went down with a knee injury in early October. That’s not expected to change this week, even if Kelly returns to the lineup.

Kelly was designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday and could play Sunday. If not, rookie Tanor Bortolini, who has been cleared from the concussion protocol, could start at center.

Undrafted rookie Dalton Tucker has replaced injured right guard Will Fries in the lineup, and rookie Matt Goncalves could fill in for right tackle Braden Smith, who is expected to miss his second straight game because of a personal matter.

Well-timed bye

The Colts and Broncos both took last weekend off after being given the latest possible byes on the schedule.

While Colts coach Shane Steichen wasn’t sure about the impact of a Week 14 bye, he’s found some significant benefit to a short December break.

“You always wonder about it (a late bye),” he said before Wednesday’s practice. “But it gives us an opportunity to get healthy. Like I said, playing football in December is huge for us and getting those guys back when you have such a late bye helps.”

Elevated

Franklin has had a league-high 480 tackles over the past three seasons, but this week the team captain is playing a different role off the field — adviser.

Franklin’s experience playing in Denver — he played there in a 12-9 overtime win in 2022 — has prompted teammates to ask about the one inescapable fact of the Mile High City — the elevation.

“I’ve given them a couple of tips here and there,” Franklin said. “But everybody’s body is different. Some guys may get sick. You almost don’t really know how your body’s going to react to it.”

Surtain's honor

 

Surtain took tremendous pride in recently being named the AFC defensive player of the month. He's the first Broncos cornerback to earn the award since Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey in October 2006.

Surtain had quite a month of November, playing 140 total coverage snaps and allowing just nine receptions for 55 yards, according to NextGen Stats.

“It shows the work I put in prior to that month,” Surtain said. “It’s something that I took a huge account in for sure.”

Tough assignment

The Broncos have their hands full trying to stop Richardson's designed runs and tailback Jonathan Taylor, who has rushed for 804 yards this season.

“There are a number of things that can stress you,” Payton said. "It presents a completely ... different challenge than weeks prior.”