What did Travis Hunter's dad do? Details of 2023 arrest, sentence behind waiver to attend NFL Draft

Daniel Mader

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What did Travis Hunter's dad do? Details of 2023 arrest, sentence behind waiver to attend NFL Draft image

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When Travis Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy, he and his family took the spotlight for a night. 

From his mother to his girlfriend, plenty of Hunter's top supporters were either on-camera or mentioned in his speech. However, his father, Travis Hunter Sr., was not present — and the Heisman winner addressed his dad during the ceremony.

"I know you wanted to be here and you can't, but trust me, I got you," Hunter said. "I'm bringing the trophy home. I love you."

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Hunter's father has been under home confinement stemming from a 2023 arrest. Here's what to know about Travis Hunter Sr.'s sentence.

What did Travis Hunter's dad do?

Travis Hunter Sr. was arrested in 2023 on gun- and drug-related charges.

However, the specifics are not known. He pled guilty to three counts, including a felony, related to the 2023 arrest, per Yahoo Sports.

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Travis Hunter's dad's sentence

Travis Sr., 39, was given a 90-day sentence in Palm Beach County West Detention Center, which he began in September 2024. He was released around three weeks early.

He also had a three-year probation agreement, with the first year coming under home confinement.

When he was released in December 2024, it was just nine days before his son's Heisman Trophy ceremony, according to the Palm Beach Post. He told the outlet that he didn't want to attend the ceremony because he knew the two-way star would have more accomplishments in the future.

"I don't want to go," Travis Sr. said. "I want to be there when he gets married and when he gets drafted. I'm going to watch this from home."

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Travis Hunter Sr. given permission to travel for NFL Draft

While Travis Hunter Sr. didn't make the trip to attend the Heisman ceremony, he is expected to join his son for the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Palm Beach Post reported Apr. 22 that Travis Sr. was granted permission by the courts to travel to Green Bay for the draft. He is scheduled to leave West Palm Beach the day before the draft, April 23, and was ordered to return April 25, per court documents.

Travis Sr. will reportedly be "restricted to the grounds of the hotel" and Lambeau Field, where the draft will be held, and was required to submit a full travel itinerary to his community control officer.

Travis Hunter Jr.'s grandmother, Shirley, told The Palm Beach Post that it made her "proud" that her son can watch her grandson be drafted. She is set to watch the NFL Draft from a watch party in Boynton Beach, where Travis Sr. lives and where his the Colorado star son was raised, alongside Hunter's family and friends.

Hunter Jr. is expected to be a top-5 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft at minimum, but is likely to land with either the Browns (No. 2 overall pick) or Giants (No. 3).

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Daniel Mader

Daniel Mader joined Sporting News as an editorial intern in 2024 following his graduation from Penn State University. Previously, he covered Penn State, high school and local sports beats for NBC Sports, the Centre Daily Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Daily Collegian and LancasterOnline. He grew up in Lancaster, Penn., with a love for baseball that’ll never fade, but could also talk basketball or football for days.