Travis Hunter will hear his name called early as the NFL Draft gets going in Green Bay.
The bookies don’t expect the two-way phenom to make it past the Cleveland Browns with the second pick, although every year throws up a few surprises.
He will join other highly-touted hopefuls, including projected No.1 pick Cam Ward and superstar pass-rusher Abdul Carter, in the green room.
Watching behind-the-scenes reactions of friends and family to the picks is always one of the highlights of draft night — often more interesting than events on stage.
Why has Travis Hunter’s dad been given special permission to attend NFL Draft?
Hunter is named after his dad Travis Hunter Sr., who was a huge influence on the 21-year-old’s career growing up and will join his son in Wisconsin after getting special permission to attend.
The 39-year-old is serving a home confinement sentence stemming from his arrest on gun and drug charges in 2023.
He was sentenced to 90 days in September 2024 and released nine days before Hunter Jr. was presented with the Heisman Trophy in New York.
Why couldn’t he attend the Heisman Trophy ceremony?
Travis Hunter Sr. could not attend the Heisman Trophy ceremony after being placed on a three-year probation period with the first year under home confinement.
“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.”
Hunter Jr. was visibly emotional as he talked about his father during his speech.
“I want to say something to my father,” the Colorado Buffaloes star said. “He’s not here and wasn’t able to make it but I know you’re watching on TV. Dad, I love you. For all the stuff you went through, man. … Now look at your oldest son. I did it for you, man.
“All the times that you didn’t get to see me, or the times you did come to see my games. From not seeing probably two games in high school to seeing me on TV every weekend and coming to see me. That means so much to me.
InstagramHunter Sr. will be present in the green room[/caption]
“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.”
Hunter Sr., who was filmed breaking down in tears in reaction to the speech, will now be able to join his son for the proudest moment of his life thanks to being given special permission to leave his home in Boynton Beach, Florida.
Court documents revealed that he was scheduled to leave West Palm Beach a day before the event and must be home Friday, while he is not permitted to leave his hotel other than to attend the Draft at Lambeau Field.
Did Travis Hunter Sr. play professional football?
Travis Sr. was a football and track standout at Boynton Beach High School in Florida.
He set a school record in the 4x100m relay that still stands today, per Yahoo Sports.
He played semi-pro football but had to turn down a junior college approach to look after his children.
“I just want to play ball. I was supposed to go to Dodge, Kansas, but I had two kids so I couldn’t leave them,” he told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 2008.
Now he gets to watch the son he made the sacrifice for live be welcomed into the NFL by commissioner Roger Goodell.
Judging by the Heisman ceremony, there could be plenty of tears.
Who is Travis Hunter’s mom and will she be at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay?
Travis Hunter’s mom Shirley was in New York for the Heisman ceremony and is delighted her son and grandson can now attend together.
“That made me proud because he can go up there,” she said. “I’d rather him be up there to be with his son than me. That’s his first son.”
However, Shirley will not be in attendance at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, for the draft.
Instead she will attend a draft party in Boynton Beach with friends and family as well as former members of the Bulldogs youth football program that Hunter Jr. joined when he was five.
Tonight sees one of the most unique events in world sport get underway, as the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off in Green Bay, and you can hear the first round in full, exclusively on talkSPORT2 and on the talkSPORT Endzone YouTube Channel with the first pick made from 1am.
Join our NFL host Will Gavin and draft expert Dom Corbett as they bring you every single pick, trade and moment of drama live!
Our build up starts from 11pm on talkSPORT 2 and you’ll also be able to see our team give their verdict on every pick made with a live watchalong over on the talkSPORT Endzone Youtube Channel from 12.30!
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