Heisman Trophy winner gets emotional thanking dad. ‘I did it for you, man’

In a tearful celebration, the newest Heisman Trophy winner shared a message with his father who couldn’t be in attendance.

On Dec. 14, Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter Jr. was awarded that Heisman Trophy at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

While looking at the camera, the 21-year-old said he wanted “to say something to my father. He’s not here. But I know you’re watching on TV.”

“Dad, I love you. All the stuff you went through, man. Now, look at your oldest son. I did it for you, man,” Travis Hunter Jr. continued. “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. 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.“

According to The Palm Beach Post, Travis Hunter Sr. stayed home in Boynton Beach, Florida, so that his mom, Travis Hunter’s grandmother, could travel to New York City to watch him win the title of best college football player in the nation.

“He could have went,” Shirley Hunter told The Palm Beach Post. “He just wanted me to go in his place because I hadn’t been (to New York) and he wanted me to go instead of himself.”

“I want to be there when he gets married and when he gets drafted. I’m going to watch this from home,” Travis Hunter Sr. said. The father was released from the Palm Beach County West Detention Center just nine days before Travis Hunter won the Heisman.

Shirley Hunter said Travis Hunter Sr. also got emotional hearing his son thank him following the big win.

According to The Palm Beach Post, Shirley Hunter was the one who first signed Travis Hunter up for football years ago.

“I could not stop crying,” she said.