Travis Hunter Sr. with son Travis Hunter Jr. (Photo: X/ @Reallytheitgirl)

The father of 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter went to prison in September 2023 in connection with a 2023 arrest. Travis Hunter Sra former football player, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and held at the Palm Beach County West Detention Center in Belle Glade.

Hunter, 21, plays cornerback for the Colorado Buffaloes after joining Deion Sanders’ team from the Jackson State Tigers. He won college football’s most coveted award after earning a comfortable victory with 552 first-place votes and 2,231 points.

After accepting the Heisman Trophy on stage, Hunter addressed the camera in a heartwarming gesture to his father, whose eyes blinked with tears.

“Dad, I love you,” he said. “All that you’ve been through, man… Look at your oldest son. I did it for you, man. All the times you can’t see me and the times you came to watch my games.” From probably two games in high school to seeing me on TV every weekend and me “To visit, man, it means so much to me.”

Watch the speech here:

Why did Travis Hunter Sr. go to prison?

According to a report from the Palm Beach Post, it is not public what allegations have been made against Travis Hunter Sr. However, Hunter Sr. was released for good behavior three weeks before the scheduled release date. Speaking to the news outlet, the Georgia resident said he missed attending his son’s games in the second half of the 2024 college football season. However, Hunter Sr. revealed that he watched his son’s game on television while he was in the detention center.

“Yeah, it hurt,” Hunter Sr. said of not being able to watch his son play. “But it always hurts when I don’t go to a game.”

Why didn’t Travis Hunter Sr. attend the Heisman Trophy ceremony?

In a report from the Palm Beach Post, Travis Hunter Sr. spoke about not wanting to attend the Heisman Trophy ceremony, preferring instead to watch his son accept the award on television from his home in Georgia. He revealed that he preferred to be by his son’s side in deeply personal moments – such as conscription or marriage.

“I don’t want to go,” Hunter Sr. said. “I want to be there when he gets married and gets drafted. I’ll watch it from home.”