Colorado football star Travis Hunter Jr. won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, delivering an emotional speech after becoming the second-ever two-way player to win the award.
The receiver/cornerback thanked his dad, Travis Hunter Sr., who wasn't in attendance at the ceremony in New York City.
"I want to say something to my father. He's not here and wasn't able to make it but I know you're watching on TV," he said as he looked directly in the camera. "Dad, I love you. For all the stuff you went through man ... Now look at your oldest son. I did it for you, man."
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Hunter Jr. thanked his mother, his fiancée, and his Colorado coach, Deion Sanders, who were all in attendance on Saturday night. But his dad's tribute was a bit more specialized, especially as he wasn't in New York.
"First I want to say thank God, man," Hunter Jr. said at the Lincoln Center on Saturday night. "I never thought I would be in this position. It's crazy. Your belief take you a long way. It's actually crazy, man. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Winning the Heisman Trophy is one of the top accomplishments in all of football, with it being one of the first accolades mentioned even as past winners embark on their NFL careers. It has typically brought out emotional acceptance speeches from some of the sport's most talented players, from Joe Burrow telling impoverished kids from Ohio they can also become Heisman winners, to Hunter Jr. thanking his dad.
Hunter Jr.'s win was historic as he joined former Michigan receiver/cornerback Charles Woodson, who won the award in 1997 as a two-way player before being selected No. 4 overall in the 1998 NFL draft. It was also the closest Heisman voting since 2009, as Hunter Jr. edged out Boise State's Ashton Jeanty by 214 points and 223 first-place votes.
The West Palm Beach, Florida, native finished the regular season with 92 receptions for 1,152 yards with 14 touchdowns, also collecting 31 total tackles with four interceptions and a forced fumble in what was one of the most impressive seasons in recent college football history.
He will play one final college game in the Alamo Bowl against BYU before heading to the NFL draft, where he will likely be one of the top selections and have his dad in mind once again.