A Huge Week for Colorado Star Travis Hunter

Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter is by far, one of the most popular athletes of the upcoming draft class. 

He undoubtedly has star potential on the field, but he continues to stay in the news with his endeavors off the field, as well. 

On July 19, the EA Sports College Football 25 video game was released. This edition garnered even more attention than usual as it was the first to be released in 11 seasons. 

The day after its release, Hunter held an official launch party at Buffalo Wild Wings in Westminster, Colorado. Why Buffalo Wild Wings, you might be asking? Just last week, Hunter announced a new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal with the restaurant chain where fans could receive six free wings using his special code. 

Check out the official advertisement here.

Regardless of the location, though, the event was jam-packed with entertainment.

A big day for Hunter

Hundreds of fans stopped by the event and some even lined up to play the new game against Hunter, who was seen laughing while playing against his fans.

It’s not surprising that none of them beat the star wide receiver.

Hunter didn’t just play video games during the event, though. He also took photos with fans and offered autographs while getting to know some of Colorado’s biggest fans.

Finally, he gave away a Play Station 5, plus five copies of the video game.

Another huge part of the day was the release of Hunter’s new clothing line and apparel deal with Rock ‘Em Socks. 

The “I’m Him” line of apparel was available for purchase at the event. The new line includes a mix of t-shirts, socks, hats, beanies, and boxer briefs. While some feature his face and/or number, others include Buffalo Wild Wings logos. 

Taking after his teammate

It shouldn’t come as a shock that the 21-year-old would aim to create a new line or catchphrase. In the age of NIL, it’s smart to separate yourself from the competition not just on the field, but off the field – in terms of your marketability – as well. 

Aside from this, Hunter spends a lot of time with teammate Shedeur Sanders, as well as Colorado coach Deion Sanders, both of which are known for their marketability. The Sanders family, as a whole, has become one of the most prominent families in football due to their various brand deals, commercials, and more. 

Maybe Hunter is taking a page out of their book? He does already have deals with several well-known brands like North Face, American Eagle, and 7-Eleven.

At the end of the day, whatever Hunter is doing is smart. Releasing his apparel at the same time that many fans will be playing as Hunter in the new EA Sports game is incredibly clever. Plus, teaming up with the restaurant where the release party takes place is a new level of marketing genius.

Kudos to Hunter and his team for this one. They definitely nailed it.

Victoria Jonach is an aspiring writer and media analyst fascinated by what kinds of activities players participate in off the football field. Growing up in New Jersey, she is a New York Giants fan and attends Rutgers University, pursuing a career in Journalism and Media Studies. She writes for FirstRoundMock.com covering anticipated draft picks and their acts of volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and other interests that shape these individuals.

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