Projected top NFL Draft pick and Colorado receiver/corner Travis Hunter has been caught in the internet’s crosshairs after controversial clips of his fiancée, Leanna Lenee, went viral on Dec 22.
He was nowhere to be seen when the Colorado crew landed in San Antonio on Monday for the Alamo Bowl game against BYU. Head coach Deion Sanders, who addressed the media on Monday, shared an update on Hunter’s mental health and his availability for the postseason matchup.
Deion Sanders Gives Travis Hunter Update
Sanders held a brief press conference where he discussed the mindset of the team ahead of Saturday’s contest. There, he was asked about Hunter, who had deactivated his Instagram and taken a step back from social media. Sanders claimed he was doing well and is currently focusing on football.
“Everything is great, he has the Heisman Trophy at the crib,” Sanders said. “‘He’s projected to be the first or second pick, no later than the third. I don’t know where all the bulljunk comes in at. I think it’s all a blessing; the things you may count as stressing are still a blessing. I think he’s heading in the right direction. He loves the game of football.
“I’m always focused on the positives, not the negatives. It’s so easy to see the negative when the positive is right there in front of you. I love this young man. I love what he stands for. I love him like he’s a son. He’s exceeded everything we’ve asked of him academically as well as athletically.”
I wanted to ask Coach Prime about how Travis Hunter is doing.
“Everything is great, he has the Heisman Trophy at the crib… I don’t know where the bulljunk comes in at… It’s so easy to see the negative when the positive is right in front of you.” pic.twitter.com/mQsP0577N5
— RK (@RyanKoenigsberg) December 24, 2024
On Sunday, a clip of Hunter’s fiancée dancing on another man went viral. It was an old video, although its time frame is still not known. That didn’t stop the internet from chiming in with criticism for both Hunter and Lenee.
In a matter of hours, Hunter deactivated his Instagram, which only added to the speculation. The controversy initially began when a video from the Heisman ceremony went viral showing Hunter arguing with his fiancée.
Travis Hunter Could Go Top Five in 2025 NFL Draft
On the football front, Hunter is one of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is expected to go in the top five, likely behind quarterback and Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders. Quarterbacks tend to rise to the top of drafts due to positional value, but Hunter is a strong candidate to be the first non-quarterback taken in April.
Entering Week 17, the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars remain the frontrunners for his talents due to their projected draft pick. The Las Vegas Raiders, who previously had the No. 2 overall selection, lost their grip on that spot after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars.
When the 2024 college football season began, Coach Prime predicted the first two NFL Draft picks would include Hunter and his son, Shedeur. That’s shaping up to be a pretty solid prediction after Sanders’ season and Hunter’s Heisman campaign.