Before the lights, before the headlines, Travis Hunter was just a boy with no privileges to boost him to be the star he is today. The family often had nowhere to sleep but a friend’s floor. Some nights, they shuffled into a hotel room, counting blessings. His grandmother, Shirley, tried to make it feel normal. “Go outside and play football with your cousins,” she’d say, handing the four-year-old a ball bigger than his head. She enrolled him in youth football, praying the game would lead to something better. As a result, Travis ended up following in his father, Hunter Sr.’s, footsteps, who was once a star on the field. But through all the challenges, one person never blinked. The one in his corner, always pushing forward, always tackling the next storm, was his mother.

Ferrante Edmonds has been the anchor in Travis Hunter’s life. When things got tough, she picked up and moved the family from Florida to Georgia—no hesitation. Every sacrifice she made was aimed at keeping Travis on the field and focused. As critics circled, she stood strong beside him. “We went through our tests and our trials for a purpose,” she told ESPN. “Had we not gone through what we went through, how strong would he actually be?” Her faith was the armor that never cracked. “When people come at him and say crazy stuff, it doesn’t matter,” she said. “He’s been through a lot of storms.”

Now, she’s turning her pain into purpose. On her Instagram story, she shared words shaped by her journey. “You have to deal with your trauma or it will consume you,” she wrote. “It will make you bitter, it will make you angry! It will cloud your judgement!” Her message is direct. Her belief is unshaken. “Forgive and let go and let God heal you and set you free.” For her 13.4K followers, she offers more than advice. She gives them a glimpse of survival with grace. 

Faith has always been her compass. She recently hosted the Fire, Faith & Purpose Conference 2025, pouring into others the same way she poured into her son. Her Instagram story echoed that mission: “I get it! You don’t understand why! You don’t understand how! I need you to know God is a way maker! Promise keeper! light in the darkness!” These aren’t just words. They’re fuel for people standing at the edge, the way she once did.

And the payoff? It’s happening now. He recently bought his mother a house in Savannah, Georgia. He’s also carving out his legacy on the turf. 

Travis Hunter “just runs around all day”

Jags QB Trevor Lawrence has seen a lot of athletes. But even he had to pause when Travis Hunter hit the field. “Ball skills, running after the catch, he’s very explosive,” Lawrence said after the Jags’ first OTA. “Just didn’t realize how explosive he was in and out of cuts. He’s impressive to watch, and we’ve gotten to connect a couple times.” Hunter, just 22, is already drawing praise from a franchise QB—and it’s not just about speed.

Lawrence couldn’t stop there. What he saw in practice wasn’t average rookie play. “He’s got a lot of juice,” he added. “He can run all day. A lot of energy. I love it. Always dapping guys up, just bringing juice every day. High motor, can just go.” That type of endorsement doesn’t come easy. Especially not from a QB trying to build his legacy in Jacksonville. But Hunter isn’t built like a rookie. He’s wired like a veteran who’s already played in primetime.

Despite being drafted primarily as a cornerback, Hunter hasn’t stayed in one lane. He’s been running with the offense during much of the offseason. At the same time, he’s been diving into defensive meetings. He even took cornerback reps in Phase 2 of the offseason program. That kind of two-way investment isn’t common. But it fits the mold of a player who has always been more than one position.

The scouting reports say the same thing Lawrence sees. During his Heisman-winning 2024 season, Hunter played like a cheat code. He had 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he tallied 36 tackles and four interceptions. He wasn’t just playing both sides—he was dominating both sides. And now, he’s taking that same energy to the NFL. With Lawrence buying in and the Jaguars leaning in, Hunter is already forcing everyone to watch.