Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes during a game on November 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado ; Travis Hunter with his father Travis Hunter Sr. and mother Ferrante Edmonds in March 2024. Photo:
Andrew Wevers/Getty ; Travis Hunter Sr./ Instagram
Travis Hunter’s parents, Ferrante Edmonds and Travis Hunter Sr., helped their son become one of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Hunter followed in his dad’s footsteps by playing football in high school, and he went on to play as a cornerback and wide receiver at the University of Colorado Boulder. Hunter hit a major career milestone in December 2024 when he won the Heisman Trophy.
“We went through our tests and our trials for a purpose,” Edmonds told ESPN the same month. “Had we not gone through what we went through, how strong would he actually be? When people come at him and say crazy stuff, it doesn’t matter, because he’s been through a lot of storms.”
Hunter’s mom supported him at the ceremony while his dad was unable to attend, so the trophy winner emotionally thanked Hunter Sr. during his speech.
Here’s everything to know about Travis Hunter’s parents, Travis Hunter Sr. and Ferrante Edmonds.
Travis Hunter and his father Travis Hunter Sr. pose for a photo together. Travis Hunter Sr./ Instagram
Hunter isn’t the only athlete in his family. Hunter Sr. was a football and track star when he was a teenager at Boynton Beach High School in Boynton Beach, Fla., in the early 2000s, according to The Palm Beach Post.
Hunter Sr. broke school records while competing in relays and sprints on the track and field team. However, his passion was football, where he used his speed to his advantage and became a key player on the team.
After graduating, Hunter Sr. played semipro football in the Florida Football Alliance (FFA) and Southern States Football League (SSFL), per The Palm Beach Post. He won the SSFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007.
Travis Hunter and his mother Ferrante Edmonds pose for a photo together in October 2022. Ferrante Edmonds/ Instagram
Edmonds and Hunter Sr., who welcomed Hunter when they were young, initially raised the future football star in West Palm Beach, Fla.
After living in the southern state for a few years, Edmonds and Hunter moved to Atlanta, Ga., ahead of his high school career. The cornerback’s mom told ESPN that the move was initially a struggle, and shared that they lived with friends and family before moving into a hotel.
“We went through it. We endured it, but it also made us stronger. Not just one of us, but all of us,” Edmonds told the outlet in December 2024. “Sometimes the tests and the trials that you go through can make you stronger, make you wiser, and make you that much hungrier.”
When Hunter was a sophomore at Collins Hill High in Suwanee, Ga., he moved in with the football team’s secondary coach, Frontia Fountain, and his family.
“When you have a child, it takes a village to help with that child,” Edmonds said. “It also takes other people that can reach your child just as well as you can … So they did exactly what I was not qualified to do. We all have different roles, and the roles they played with my son were amazing.”
Travis Hunter and his mom Ferrante Edmonds embrace after Travis won the Heisman Trophy on December 14, 2024 in New York. Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via AP
Hunter thanked his mom for all of her dedication by surprising her with a five bedroom home in Savannah, Ga., in March 2024.
Hunter posted a video of the reveal on his YouTube channel. In addition to gifting his mom the expansive home, he also surprised her by inviting their friends and family to celebrate the purchase.
“Y’all got me good,” she exclaimed in the video. “Wooooo!!!!”
Travis Hunter with his father Travis Hunter Sr. in June 2020. Travis Hunter Sr./ Instagram
Hunter Sr. is currently serving a three-year probation with the first year under home confinement.
His sentencing stemmed from a 2023 arrest for gun and drug charges, per The Palm Beach Post. In September 2024, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail and was released on Dec. 5, 2024.
Travis Hunter’s dad Travis Hunter Sr. in December 2022 ; Travis Hunter poses with the Trophy during the Heisman Trophy press conference on December 14, 2024 in New York City. Travis Hunter Sr./ Instagram ; Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Despite getting released from jail nine days prior to the 2024 Heisman ceremony in December 2024, Hunter Sr. did not attend the show, opting to send his mother, Shirley Hunter, in his place, per The Palm Beach Post.
Hunter accepted the prestigious award and gave a special shout-out to his dad in an emotional speech.
“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. All the stuff you went through, man. Now, look at your oldest son. I did it for you, man. All the times that you ain’t get to see me, and the times that you came to see my games. From probably two games in high school to seeing me on TV every weekend and coming to see me, man, that means so much to me.”
Hunter concluded the speech by saying, “I know you wanted to be here and you can’t, but trust me, I got you. I’m bringing the trophy home. I love you.”
Meanwhile, Edmonds shared her thoughts on her son’s success during the ceremony.
“I love the person that he is, but I’m also grateful because what they said was my biggest mistake turned out to be my biggest blessing,” Edmonds said of her young pregnancy. “I’m so excited for him, but I’m also excited for everyone behind him. You can do it. If you fall, get back up. You only fail when you stop, and he didn’t.”
Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter during a game on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, MO. Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Hunter Sr. will see his son participate in the 2025 NFL Draft after a Florida court granted him permission, according to court documents obtained by The Palm Beach Post.
The documents state that Hunter Sr. was allowed to travel to Green Bay, Wisc., for the draft on April 24 and must return to Boynton Beach after the first day of the draft.
The 2025 NFL Draft begins April 24 for first-round picks and will continue until the seventh round ends on April 26. The Tennessee Titans have the first pick in the draft, followed by the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants.
