Colorado two-way football star Travis Hunter had a special guest with him at the NFL draft Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
It’s the same person he paid tribute to in an emotional speech after he won the Heisman Trophy last December – his father, Travis Hunter Sr.
Hunter Jr. put his arms around his father and mother after he was selected No. 2 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars – a shared moment made possible because a Florida judge granted the father’s request to travel there this week. Hunter Sr. is currently serving three years of probation in Palm Beach County, Florida, after being convicted of gun and drug charges last year, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
The son apparently inherited his athletic ability from his father, a former track and football standout in Florida. But in his Heisman speech, Hunter Jr. also acknowledged missing his father during his childhood when he spoke of “all the times that you didn’t get to see me” growing up. Travis Hunter Sr. was not able to attend the Heisman ceremony, either.
This time at the draft, the father was able to be there in person after a troubled recent past.
What happened with Travis Hunter’s dad?
It stems from an incident in Lantana, Florida, in November 2023, when Hunter Sr., now 39, was pulled over by police after the officer said he didn’t have “any lights for the tag” on his car, according to the police report. Police identified him as a habitual traffic offender with no driver’s license and subjected him to a search that allegedly found the drugs and a backpack with a pistol and loaded magazine. A football jersey with the name of “Travis Hunter” also was found in the backpack, the police report said.
Police said he also had amphetamines in his pocket at the time of his arrest in November 2023.
He was charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon after a prior conviction in 2018 for “sale or possession of heroin with intent to sell.” Hunter Sr. reached a plea deal last year to plead guilty to drug possession and the gun charge, leading to a sentence of 90 days in jail. He got released on Dec. 5, just nine days before the Heisman ceremony in New York.
He also was sentenced to three years of probation that required him not to leave the county without the consent of his probation officer and not to be released until outfitted with a monitor. His obligations to the court prevented him from attending the Heisman ceremony, according to court documents.
The prior conviction involving heroin stems from his arrest in Palm Beach County in October 2017. In that case, he was sentenced to two years in state custody with credit for 123 days of time served, according to court documents from February 2019.
That sentence played out when Hunter Jr., now 21, was in high school.
“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,’ Hunter Jr. said during his Heisman speech.
How Travis Hunter’s dad is able to attend NFL draft
In March, Hunter Sr.’s attorney asked the state court to allow him to travel to Green Bay for the draft this week.
“Both Mr. Hunter and his son are praying that he be permitted to attend this event in hopes of being with his son now that he is entering his sixth month of supervision,” the request said.
Judge Howard Coates granted the request March 19.
“Defendant will be allowed to accompany his son to the event and shall return to his pre-approved lodging upon the completion of the first-round selections after his son concludes his appearance at the ceremonial first night,” the judge’s order stated. “Defendant is permitted to travel departing West Palm Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 and shall return to West Palm Beach on Friday, April 25, 2025. Other than attending the ceremony the evening of the 24th, Defendant shall otherwise abide by his approved schedule.”
The judge’s order said Hunter Sr. must be in full compliance with his electronic monitoring and is restricted to the grounds of the hotel other than attending the draft ceremony. The order also said he is required to submit to urinalysis upon return as directed by his community control officer.
Hunter Sr. didn’t return a message seeking comment.
Travis Hunter’s road to the NFL
After his childhood in Palm Beach County, Travis Hunter’s mom moved him to Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, where his family of five was living back then in a converted motel room, not including Hunter Sr., said Drew Swick, the coach at Collins Hill.
Swick told USA TODAY Sports last year that Hunter’s grades started dropping at one point before another coach, Frontia Fountain, let him move in with him.
“From there on, Travis kind of flourished,” Swick told USA TODAY Sports.
Hunter later played for coach Deion Sanders at Jackson State before moving with him to Colorado in 2023. Last year, Hunter Jr. revealed on YouTube that he bought a house in Savannah for his mom, who attended the Heisman ceremony in New York.
Off the field, Hunter Jr. became an ace student at Colorado and now is hoping to play both receiver and cornerback in the NFL, much like he did in college.
His jersey No. 12 was retired by Colorado in a ceremony in Boulder on Saturday.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
(This story was updated to add new information.)