Travis Hunter and his mom (Photos via ESPN)
Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, but his mother, Ferrante Harris, captured attention with her emotional and candid comments during the ceremony.
While celebrating her son’s monumental achievement, Ferrante shared a deeply personal message about Hunter’s journey, addressing those who had doubted them. At one point, she referred to him as a “mistake,” but clarified her meaning powerfully.
“I love the person that he is, but I’m also grateful that what others called my biggest mistake turned out to be the greatest blessing,” she said. “That just goes to show you—mistakes don’t define who you are.”
Her comments may have sounded surprising at first, but it became clear that she was recounting the opinions of others rather than her own.
Ferrante also took the opportunity to inspire other mothers who might relate to her experience:
“I’m so excited for him, but I’m also excited for everyone who’s watching him—the people who look up to him and see that you can do it. It doesn’t matter if you fall—get back up. You only fail when you stop, and he didn’t stop. Look at him now. I just want to say this is for all the strong moms out there. You’ve spoken truth to us all. Thank you.”
Hunter’s Heisman win makes him the second player in Colorado history to earn the honor, joining Rashaan Salaam, who won in 1994.
Hunter secured the victory with 2,231 total points, narrowly beating Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who had 2,017 points. This marked the closest margin of victory since Mark Ingram edged out Toby Gerhart in 2009.
Here are the full voting results, including first-place votes:
Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter
- – 2,231 points (552 first-place votes)
Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty
- – 2,017 points (309 first-place votes)
Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel
- – 516 points (24 first-place votes)
Miami QB Cam Ward
- – 229 points (6 first-place votes)
Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo
- – 170 points (3 first-place votes)
Army QB Bryson Daily
- – 69 points (3 first-place votes)
Penn State TE Tyler Warren
- – 52 points (1 first-place vote)
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders
- – 47 points (1 first-place vote)
Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke
- – 22 points (2 first-place votes)
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord
- – 9 points
Where Will Travis Hunter Get Drafted?
Travis Hunter is expected to be drafted by a team in desperate need of talent. Although many top-pick teams will target quarterbacks, Hunter’s exceptional ability as a two-way player will be hard to ignore.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are currently considered front-runners for the first overall pick. With their quarterback position already secured, they could very well select Hunter as a game-changing asset.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, Hunter is widely regarded as one of the top prospects. His stats this season are a testament to his dominance:
Receiving: 92 receptions, 1,152 yards, 14 touchdowns
Defense: 31 tackles, 4 interceptions in 12 games
Hunter’s ability to perform at such a high level on both sides of the ball sets him apart and ensures he will be a coveted player at the next level.
Travis Hunter’s Brother, Trayvis, Receives College Offer From Familiar School
Two schools offered Travis Hunter’s younger brother, Trayvis, on Monday.
Jackson State Tigers wide receiver Travis Hunter reacts after catching a touchdown against the 2022 Celebration Bowl. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Travis Hunter reached the pinnacle of college football Saturday when he was awarded the Heisman Trophy after a dominant season with Colorado. Now, his younger brother, Trayvis, may be up next.
Trayvis, a 2027 recruit, is a sophomore wide receiver at Effingham County High School in Springfield, Georgia. He recorded 496 receiving yards and six touchdowns in nine games this season according to MaxPreps.
The offers started to roll in for Trayvis on Monday. He received his first collegiate offer from Tennessee State University where College Football Hall of Fame running back Eddie George is the head coach.
“Blessed to receive my first ever offer from Tennessee State University,” Trayvis posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
A few hours later, Hunter posted that he received another offer. This time, he got the call from Jackson State, where his brother Travis played with Deion and Shedeur Sanders before Deion was hired as Colorado’s coach. At Jackson State, Travis was named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the top freshman player in FCS football.
Trayvis received his first two offers only a couple of days after Travis won the Heisman. Not a bad week for the Hunter brothers.
Only a sophomore, Trayvis has plenty of time to mull his future over and see more offers roll in. No matter where he decides to play college football, he’ll have a Heisman winner on his side.