Latest news with #2024HeismanTrophy
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Travis Hunter's teammate 'selfishly' desires him to play more offense
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has an exciting new teammate joining him on the roster for next season: Travis Hunter. The former Colorado Buffaloes star, like Lawrence, was a First-Team All-American when he played college football. Unlike the quarterback, who won the College Football Playoff national championship in 2018, Hunter quite famously played both sides of the ball throughout college and during his 2024 Heisman Trophy campaign. Lawrence, who was selected by the Jaguars at No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, will have Hunter as a weapon in Jacksonville's offense next season after his team selected Hunter at No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. More: Travis Hunter would rather quit football than choose between offense and defense in NFL Hunter, however, is not particularly willing to choose between playing just offense or defense in the pros. While the Jaguars are taking their time with easing Hunter into both of his positions, Lawrence certainly has a preference for where he wants his new teammate to line up. Here is what Lawrence said, with his full quote and thoughts on the topic: "We're getting there. Obviously, he's playing a little bit of both ways. He's so talented. It's hard to keep him off the field. Selfishly, I definitely want him on offense more. I told him, it's like: Do you want to come catch touchdowns or do you want to maybe break up a pass or two a game? That's a decision you've got to make ... He'll make plays no matter where he's at, honestly, and of course as a quarterback I hope he plays more offense. But wherever he needs to play to make our team better, because he will make us better, is what's going to happen. So I'm all for whatever that is." That is fairly compelling argument from Lawrence if Hunter wants to make some highlight reels. The good news for Lawrence is that while Hunter is listed as a second-string cornerback in Jacksonville's first depth chart, he is considered a starting wide receiver.
USA Today
24-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Travis Hunter adds another major Big 12 award as NFL training camp begins
Travis Hunter has no shortage of hardware from his college career, and he keeps racking up those honors even as he begins training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After being nominated for the Big 12 Conference's Athlete of the Year award, the conference awarded Hunter the award on Thursday morning. The award comes as no surprise, considering Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy and several other national honors, including the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver), Bednarik Award (best defensive player) and the Walter Camp Award (best player). In the Big 12, Hunter was also named the Defensive Player of the Year and the Big 12 Player of the Year. Hunter's stats speak for themselves. On offense, he racked up 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 16 total touchdowns. Defensively, Hunter covered the opposing team's top receiver while recording 36 total tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. The former Colorado star now enters his first NFL training camp, where he is attempting to prove once again that he can play at an elite level at cornerback and wide receiver. Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
Newsweek
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Travis Hunter Surprises Wife With Six-Figure Car as Wedding Gift
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Two-way football superstar Travis Huinter has had himself a busy couple of months. First, he won the 2024 Heisman Trophy after a stellar season at Colorado. Hunter made waves with his two-way ability and ease in excelling on both sides of the ball. After that, due to his stellar play in his final season at Colorado, he was drafted No. 2 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in April's NFL Draft. Hunter, the cornerback and wide receiver, is set to make headlines in his first year, but before he even took a snap in the NFL, he already did so. Hunter married his long-time girlfriend and now wife, Leanna Lenee, this past weekend. Travis Hunter #12 of the Jacksonville Jaguars speaks to the Media during Jacksonville Jaguars Rookie Minicamp at Miller Electric Center on May 10, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. Travis Hunter #12 of the Jacksonville Jaguars speaks to the Media during Jacksonville Jaguars Rookie Minicamp at Miller Electric Center on May 10, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. Photo byThe two went all out for their special day, especially Hunter, who gifted his newly wedded wife a six-figure black Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 BRABUS 800. Travis Hunter surprised his wife Leanna Lenee with a black Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 BRABUS 800 at their wedding today — FearBuck (@FearedBuck) May 25, 2025 In the viral video circulating online, Lenee is seen cutting a black ribbon as the crowd counts down. As the luxury vehicle is unveiled, she turns to her husband with a look of admiration and joy. The moment was a special one for the happy couple. While they clearly love each other, many people on social media found a video of Lenee admitting that she wasn't initially interested in the athlete, who slid into her DMs. "I just didn't respond to him. He wasn't my type," she confessed. Hunter and his wife faced a wave of online criticism in the lead-up to their wedding. Fed up with the negativity, Hunter took to a Twitch stream to openly express his frustration and share how deeply the hurtful remarks have affected him. "Y'all hate on me, then you go hate on my girl," he said during a live Twitch stream at the time. "I feel the same thing that she feels. We're inseparable. We're with each other. If she's hurting, I'm hurting." Hunter is bound to remain a hot topic of conversation, especially with his rookie season on the horizon. The Jaguars have made it clear they see his versatility as a major asset, with plans to feature him primarily at wide receiver while slowly grooming him for a future role at cornerback. More NFL news: Danica Patrick Unloads on Aaron Rodgers and Toxic Relationship in New Interview 49ers' George Kittle Turns Heads With Eye-Opening New Ranking Steelers Receive Concerning Aaron Rodgers Take From Former NFL GM Bears' Caleb Williams Receives More Harsh Criticism from Cam Newton For more Jacksonville Jaguars and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Travis Hunter draft predictions: Where is the star WR, CB projected to be picked Thursday?
Travis Hunter will find out where his career starts on Thursday, April 24's NFL Draft, which begins at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The two-way star at wide receiver and cornerback is one of the most highly-touted players in this year's draft after spending college at Jackson State in 2022 and Colorado from 2023 to 2024. Advertisement The West Palm Beach native finished his college career with 171 receptions for 2,167 yards and scored 24 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, Hunter was a shutdown corner, with 80 career tackles, 22 pass deflections, and nine interceptions. Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after helping the Colorado Buffaloes, coached by Deion Sanders, finish 9-4 and reach their first bowl game appearance, the Alamo Bowl, since the 2020 season. Hunter's No. 12 jersey has been retired by the program, alongside his teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders' No. 2. So, after a decorated and award-winning college football career, where will Hunter land in the 2025 NFL Draft? Let's take a look at his projections. Travis Hunter Draft Prediction: USA Today Network No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns Travis Hunter Draft Prediction: Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns Travis Hunter Draft Prediction: Todd McShay, The Ringer No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns Travis Hunter Draft Prediction: Bucky Brooks, No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns Travis Hunter NFL Draft Prediction: Peter Schrager, ESPN No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns Advertisement Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat. Follow his award-winning coverage on and contact him via email at GDThomas@ or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Travis Hunter NFL Draft projection: Where will the Heisman winner land?
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Draft: Travis Hunter Jr. credited grandmother for his football start. Who is Shirley Hunter?
Shirley Hunter is one proud grandmother. The Boynton Beach, Florida, woman will attend an NFL Draft watch party in her hometown, along with friends, family and members of the Boynton Beach Bulldogs youth football program. The NFL Draft is April 24-26, 2025. Advertisement Their No. 1 pick? Travis Hunter Jr., wide receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner. In December 2024, Shirley Hunter traveled to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony to see her superstar grandson win the most coveted sports trophy in the U.S. She is the mother of Travis Hunter Sr., a high school football and track star when he graduated from Boynton Beach High School. Though Travis Hunter Sr. wasn't able to attend the Heisman Trophy ceremony in person, he was at a watch party to support his son. Part of Travis Hunter Jr.'s thank-you speech shined a light on his dad − and quicky went viral. In honor of the 2025 NFL Draft, here's information about the matriarch Shirley Hunter of Boynton Beach, Florida, her son Travis Hunter Sr. and football star grandson, Travis Hunter Jr. Who is Shirley Hunter of Boynton Beach, Florida? Who is the grandmother of Travis Hunter Jr.? Shirley Hunter of Boynton Beach, Florida, is the mother of eight children, including son Travis Hunter Sr., and grandmother of Travis Hunter Jr., wide receiver of the Colorado Buffaloes football team and winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy. Advertisement The Hunter family is full of athletes − including Shirley Hunter. In the early 1970s, Shirley Hunter was a sprinter at Atlantic High School. She had eight children − five boys and three girls − and all were extraordinary athletes. The five boys played football and three ran track, including Travis Hunter Sr. (see photo gallery with this story). Two of her daughters ran track, and the other was a gymnast. Shirley Hunter told the Palm Beach Post in a Dec. 6, 2024, story that "football was my thing. What was different for me was I was a girl so I couldn't play football during those times." While at Atlantic High School, she became the 1975 state champion in the 200 meters. Travis Hunter Sr. eventually made a name for himself at Lantana Middle School and then at Boynton Beach High School as a track and football standout. Advertisement Travis Hunter Jr. was just 5 years old when Shirley Hunter, known as Miss B — "because I'm always busy," she told the Palm Beach Post — was watching him throw a football during his days with the Boynton Beach Bulldogs in Florida. Suddenly, he was tossing spirals with his left hand. Travis Hunter Jr. is a righty. "I told his coach, 'You know he throws with both hands,'" she said. He didn't believe her. According to Shirley Hunter, Travis Hunter Sr. and his son, Travis Hunter Jr., played receiver and defensive back, but Travis Hunter Sr. also returned kicks. Travis Hunter Jr., the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, spent his childhood in Boynton Beach, Florida, with his dad, Travis Hunter Sr., and grandmother, Shirley Hunter (shown). Welcome to the club! Travis Hunter Jr. joins Lamar Jackson as Palm Beach County, Florida, Heisman Trophy winner Who is Travis Hunter Sr. of Florida, father of Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner? Travis Hunter Sr. was a football and track star for Boynton Beach High School in the early 2000s. As a 15-year-old freshman, Travis Hunter Sr. was clocked electronically in the 100-meter sprint at 10.82 seconds. Advertisement In 2004, he set the Boynton Beach High School record in the 4x100-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 Boynton Beach 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. Travis 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. Advertisement Travis Hunter Sr. was 17 1/2 years old when Travis Hunter Jr. was born, which derailed his ambition to play college sports. Instead, he played for the semi-pro Southeast Florida Reapers along with several family members, including three brothers. While playing for the Florida Football Alliance and Southern States Football League, Travis Hunter Sr. won Offensive Rookie of the Year for the SSFL in 2007. Travis Hunter Sr. would often attend his son's games at Jackson State University, where he played for one year before following his coach, Deion Sanders, to the University of Colorado. Who is Travis Hunter Jr. of the Colorado Buffaloes and a top 2025 NFL Draft pick? Travis Hunter Jr. was raised in Boynton Beach, Florida, before moving to Suwanee, Georgia, with his mom where he attended Collins Hill High School and was the No. 1 recruit in the nation in 2022. He had committed to Florida State University, but then flipped to Jackson State University. Advertisement He's not only the best two-way college football player in the country, he's among the best in the country at both positions: receiver and cornerback. He's projected to be among the top players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Travis Hunter Jr. speaks fondly of both his grandmothers, and once credited Miss B for getting him into football. "She has always been there, too," he said during an interview with DawgNation when he was being recruited by Georgia. "She's the one who got me started playing football. Signed me up my first day and never looked back.' Travis Jr. later made a verbal commitment to Florida State University but flipped on signing day, joining Deion Sanders at Jackson State University. Advertisement Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: NFL Draft, Colorado's Travis Hunter Jr.: Football runs in the family
