Former NFL RB beats Travis Hunter at his own game while defending Ashton Jeanty's Heisman hopes

Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty are going at the Heisman Trophy as hard as possible. The race is springing up opinions left, right and center with multiple athletes involved, but the Colorado wide receiver/cornerback and the Boise State running back are the hottest entities for now.

Former NFL star Le'Veon Bell joined in the conversation and wasn't having it when Colorado's Hunter took a swipe at Jeanty for the 2024 Heisman race. Hunter argued that while Jeanty’s season has been great, the running back's feats aren’t unheard of.

Hunter's claim that “we've seen good running backs before” didn’t sit well with Bell, who jumped to Jeanty's defense. On Wednesday, Bell took to X and wrote:

"I love travis hunters game, he’s def been VERY impressive (if not most impressive).. but sayin 'we’ve seen good running backs before' tryna downplay this man’s season is kinda crazy .. chris gamble from OSU played both ways too, WE KNOW it’s rare, but don’t say it wasn’t done .."

While he praised Hunter's game, the former Pittsburgh Steelers player clarified that Jeanty's achievements this year are nothing short of special. Jeanty’s stats back up Bell’s words. The Boise State star leads the nation with 1,248 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on just 126 carries.

His 9.9 yards per carry is the best in college football this season. Meanwhile, Hunter has impressed on both sides of the ball, tallying 49 receptions for 587 yards and six touchdowns as a wideout, along with two interceptions as a cornerback.

While both athletes are having incredible seasons, Bell wasn’t going to let anyone diminish Jeanty’s performance on the field.

Also read: Heisman Trophy odds after Week 7: 5 players most likely to win the coveted honor ft. Ashton Jeanty

What did Travis Hunter say about Ashton Jeanty?

The Colorado two-way star didn’t hold back when discussing his Heisman competition, Ashton Jeanty, on the "Outta Pocket" podcast with Robert Griffin III. Hunter acknowledged Jeanty’s success but clarified that his two-way play sets him apart.

"I mean, y’all see Ashton Jeanty, it’s not like we haven’t seen a running back that’s good. We haven’t seen a player that plays both ways, and I’m gonna keep saying that," Hunter said.

Hunter also questioned what his stats might look like with Jeanty's number of touches, asking:

"If I had 95 catches...how much yards you think I’d have?"

Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty are having the season of their lives in 2024, but one slip could cost them the Heisman.

Also read: “I know I can win it": Travis Hunter bolsters Heisman chatter with his confident remarks before Arizona face-off