Travis Hunter is grateful after winning the Heisman Trophy.

The Colorado wide receiver and cornerback won the prestigious award, given each year to the best player in college football, on Saturday, December 14, during the Heisman ceremony at Lincoln Center in New York City.

The 21-year-old soccer star thanked friends, teammates, coaches and family during his acceptance speech, but became especially emotional when he called out his father, Travis Hunter Sr.

“I want to say something to my father. He’s not here. But I know you’re watching on TV,” he said through tears. “Dad, I love you. What you’ve been through, man. Now look at your eldest 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 playing two games in high school to seeing me on TV every weekend and visiting me, man, it means so much to me.”

“I know you wanted to be here and you can’t, but trust me, I’ve got you,” he concluded. “I’m bringing the trophy home. I love you.”

Travis Sr. decided to stay home so his mother — Travis Jr.’s grandmother Shirley Hunter — could attend instead The Palm Beach Post.

“He could have left. He just wanted me to go in his place because I hadn’t been (to New York), and he wanted me to go in his place,” she told the outlet after the Heisman ceremony.

Travis Jr. also gave a shout out to his grandma during his speech.

“My grandma, you are the person who made me play football. This means so much to me,” he began. “You saw the vision before I even saw it. When I was 4 years old, you told me to put on some pads, go outside and play with your cousins.”

“You will see how small I am. “Imagine me trying to put on shoulder pads at four years old,” he continued, drawing laughter. “It’s crazy. Thank you. I know you’re crying up there. I rarely talk to you, but I’m telling you now, I love you. Thank you for everything you have done.”

Travis Sr. said The Palm Beach Post Although he would miss that ceremony, he plans to attend his son’s other moments in life: “I want to be there when he gets married and when he gets drafted,” he said.

Per Sports IllustratedTravis Jr. is the second Buffaloes player in school history to win the Heisman Trophy, joining running back Rashaan Salaam, who won in 1994. Travis Jr. won the Heisman over Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Boise State running back I would like to thank Ashton Jeanty for the honor.

This season, the Colorado wide receiver caught 92 passes for 14 touchdowns and 1,152 yards; Each of these first two figures led the Big 12. He also intercepted four passes and broke up 11, the latter figure also leading his conference.

His efforts also helped Colorado go 9-3 and reach the Alamo Bowl, and he became the first player in history to win both the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s most outstanding receiver Sports Illustrated.

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Earlier this year, the Colorado football star gifted his mother a five-bedroom home in Savannah, Georgia, and posted a video of the lavish surprise on his YouTube channel.

In 2023, he also gave his then-girlfriend Leanna Lenee a new Tesla – a surprise that he documented on his YouTube channel. The two announced their engagement in February.

The couple recently confirmed May 24, 2025 as their wedding date.