"Don't get what we deserve" - Former 49ers star stands up for NFL-bound Travis Hunter amid Jim Thorpe Award snub

Colorado's two-way star Travis Hunter continued his blistering form during the Buffaloes' 37-21 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday. The NFL-bound star registered 125 yards on eight receptions resulting in two touchdowns while adding seven tackles and one pass defended in the game.

Despite being the odds-on favorite for the Heisman Trophy, Hunter was snubbed for the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award that recognizes the best defensive backs in college football. On Wednesday, former San Fransisco 49ers star Terrell Owens took exception to Hunter's snub in a lengthy message on his Instagram stories. It stated:

"Make it make damn sense!!! I have a lot to say but even when "WE" earn it, "WE" still don't get what we rightfully deserve," Owens wrote.

Owen's IG stories

Travis Hunter's snub for the award caused much controversy after he had been nominated for all the major awards including the Biletnikoff Award, the Maxwell Award, the Hornung Award, the Bednarik Award and the Walter Camp Award.

Caleb Downs (Ohio State Buckeyes), Malaki Starks (Georgia Bulldogs) and Jahdae Barron (Texas Longhorns) were named as the finalists on Tuesday.

---

Travis Hunter defended by Deion Sanders after award snub

Charismatic Colorado coach Deion Sanders was incensed that Travis Hunter was snubbed for the Jim Thorpe Award. During his weekly news conference, Sanders promised to give Hunter his award, which he won as a star for the Florida State Seminoles in 1988.

“How is Travis Hunter snubbed by the Thorpe Award?” Sanders said. “You can have my award. You can have it back. Matter of fact, I’m going to give him mine. I ain’t using it. It’s just sitting up there collecting dust. So Travis can have my Thorpe Award, because if this ain’t the most idiotic thing in college football, that he’s not a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

"And he is, I would say arguably, but I don’t think it’s really an argument about this young man being the best defensive back in college football. He rarely gets thrown at, they just messed up all the integrity of the award and he can have mine. Whoever’s voting down there, whoever’s bringing it home, thank you. Because I don’t even want mine now. God bless you."

Travis Hunter is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy for his two-way status on both sides of the ball and the discourse around his Jim Thorpe Award snub is likely to roll on for ages if he ends up winning the Heisman race.