Why Travis Hunter Jr. said ‘it meant a lot’ for his dad to attend NFL Draft in Green Bay
2025-04-25T09:08:10Z
Travis Hunter Sr. was granted permission by the courts recently to travel to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the NFL Draft.
AI-assisted summary Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter Jr. was drafted second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2025 NFL Draft.
His father, Travis Hunter Sr., was present at the draft after being granted permission by a Florida judge.
Hunter Sr. had been unable to attend the Heisman ceremony in December 2024 due to legal issues.
Hunter Sr. is a former football and track star from Boynton Beach High School.
Palm Beach County native Travis Hunter Jr. had his father by his side Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin as he was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Hunter Jr., who was born in West Palm Beach and has athletic roots in Boynton Beach, embraced his mother, Ferrante Harris, and father, Travis Sr., backstage in the green room after the Jaguars’ completed a surprising trade to select the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
It was a moment that was in jeopardy until just a few days ago, when a Florida judge granted permission for Hunter Sr. to travel to Green Bay to watch his son at the NFL draft.
“It meant a lot for my dad to be here tonight,” Hunter Jr. said in a press conference after the draft. “He wasn’t at the Heisman [ceremony] but he got to see his first son walk and then the younger sibling and his family happy.”
Hunter Sr. posted video to his personal Instagram account on Thursday afternoon getting dressed in his hotel room to attend the NFL draft ceremonies. He later posted a picture with his sons Travis Jr. and Trayvis as well as a photo with rapper Lil Wayne.
Travis Hunter Sr. missed Heisman ceremony amid legal troubles
Hunter Sr., 39, was sentenced to 90 days in jail in late September 2024 stemming from a 2023 arrest on gun and drug charges.
He was released from the Palm Beach County West Detention Center in Belle Glade nine days before the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December 2024 and was unable to attend. He was placed on a three-year period of probation and ordered to complete the first year under home confinement.
Travis Sr.’s absence produced an emotional moment in Hunter Jr’s acceptance speech as the Colorado standout honored his father.
“I want to say something to my father. He’s not here and wasn’t able to make it but I know you’re watching on TV,” Hunter said. “Dad, I love you. For all the stuff you went through man… Now look at your oldest son. I did it for you, man.
“All the times that you didn’t get to see me, or the times you did come to see my games. From not seeing probably two games in high school to seeing me on TV every weekend and coming to see me. That means so much to me.
“I know you wanted to be here and you can’t, but trust me, I got you. I’m bringing the trophy home. I love you.”
Who is Travis Hunter Sr.?
Travis Hunter Sr. was a football and track star for Boynton Beach High School in the early 2000s.
As a 15-year-old freshman, Hunter Sr. was clocked electronically in the 100-meter sprint at 10.82 seconds.
In 2004, he set Boynton Beach’s school record in the 4×100-meter relay (41.63s) with Odiles Jeune, Jodson Noel and Cameron Rolle. The record stands to this day despite near-misses by relay teams featuring future Heisman Trophy winner and unanimous NFL MVP Lamar Jackson in 2014 and 2015.
Travis Hunter Sr.’s football exploits made use of his impressive speed on offense, defense and special teams, even when the Tigers weren’t the most competitive team.
In 2004, Travis Hunter Sr. scored an 82-yard kick return and a 46-yard pick-six against Martin County to help Boynton Beach snap a 14-game losing streak.
Hunter Sr., a 2005 Boynton Beach High graduate, had his own ambitions of playing college football. He told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 2008 that he planned to join a JUCO roster in Kansas upon high school graduation, but held off due to his children.
Instead, Hunter Sr. played semipro football in the Florida Football Alliance and Southern States Football League, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year for the latter in 2007.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
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