When Travis Hunter crosses the stage on the NFL Draft in Inexperienced Bay tonight, he’ll have a really particular supporter within the crowd. In actual fact, in all probability a very powerful supporter of all of them.
Travis Hunter Sr. (aka, Travis Jr.’s dad), who’s been on probation and underneath residence confinement, simply acquired a uncommon break. A choose is granting him permission to depart Florida and journey to Wisconsin to see his son’s life-changing second in particular person, based on the Palm Seashore Publish.
He missed Travis’s emotional Heisman night time final December, however fortunately this time, he gained’t have to look at from afar. Hunter Sr. will likely be in Inexperienced Bay for the primary night time of the draft earlier than heading again to Boynton Seashore on Friday. Whereas he’s there, he’ll have to stay to his lodge and Lambeau Subject, the place the draft’s being held.
Travis Jr. made a reputation for himself at Colorado as one of many prime two-way gamers in faculty soccer—and now, a probable top-five draft decide. His rise by means of faculty soccer culminated with the Heisman Trophy final season, a ceremony his father couldn’t attend regardless of being launched from detention simply days earlier.
Based on The Palm Seashore Publish, Hunter Sr. made the selfless determination to stay residence so his mom – Travis Jr.’s grandmother Shirley Hunter – may attend the New York ceremony as a substitute.
“He simply needed me to go in his place as a result of I hadn’t been [to New York] and he needed me to go as a substitute of himself,” Shirley instructed reporters after the Heisman ceremony.
The absence wasn’t misplaced on Travis Jr., who devoted a part of his acceptance speech on to his father watching from afar.
“And I need to say one thing to my father. He’s not right here to have the ability to make it, however I do know you’re watching on TV,” Hunter stated throughout his emotional handle. “Dad, I like you. All of the stuff you went by means of, man, take a look at your older son. I did it for you, man.”
He continued: “All of the occasions that you simply didn’t get to see me. When the occasions you got here to see my video games, from not seeing in all probability two video games in highschool to seeing me on TV each weekend and are available to see me, man. Meaning a lot to me. I do know you needed to be right here and you may’t, however belief me, I acquired you. I’m bringing the trophy residence. I like you.”
Now, simply months later, they’ll lastly get to share a second they’ve each been ready for.
Travis Sr. has been serving probation after a 2023 arrest on gun and drug expenses. He frolicked in detention final fall, lacking a lot of his son’s greatest faculty moments.
Travis Jr.’s path to the NFL has been something however typical. He made headlines when he turned down gives from conventional powerhouse applications to play at HBCU Jackson State, following Coach Deion Sanders when few anticipated such a transfer from a five-star recruit. When Sanders accepted the pinnacle teaching place at Colorado, Hunter adopted, proving his dedication wasn’t simply to the varsity however to the coach who believed in his distinctive skills.
At Colorado, Hunter continued to differentiate himself as a uncommon two-way participant, showcasing elite expertise at each cornerback and extensive receiver – positions that sometimes require utterly completely different talent units. Scouts have been blown away by his route-running and skill to learn the sport on protection, calling him one of many draft’s most enjoyable prospects.
Tonight, as Hunter prepares to enter the skilled ranks, he’ll have the emotional help that’s been lacking from too a lot of his milestone moments. After years of watching from a distance, his father will lastly see his son’s dream come true.
