“It’s draining”: Travis Hunter gets vulnerable while talking about receiving hate following Heisman Trophy win

Travis Hunter had an incredible second season with the Colorado Buffaloes. He helped the program to a 9-3 campaign and a Bowl game showdown against BYU in the Alamo Bowl. He also won the Heisman Trophy, solidifying his status as the best college football player this season.

However, despite Hunter's Heisman win, he and his loved ones continue to face hate on social media, especially his fiancee Leanna Lenee. A series of events has many questioning the authenticity of their romance and the strength of their bond.

On Monday, Travis Hunter addressed the situation:

"They want me to be unhappy. They don't want me to be in a relationship. ... The comments and the people, you know, the hating, the hate that I'm getting. It's draining. It's draining for sure. ... Every time I get on my phone, there's something new that they are lying about. We are just a topic right now. It's draining."

Hunter and his fiancee Leanna Lenee met in high school, and earlier this year, during the offseason, the Colorado two-way star proposed to her, and she said yes.

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Travis Hunter expresses gratitude to Leanna Lenee for being an important pillar of support

Despite the criticism, Travis Hunter continues to stand by Leanna and defend their relationship. On Thursday, Hunter posted a clip on YouTube, talking about the importance of his fiancee in his life:

"The journey's been real real good, real tough. I just wanna thank God, my teammates and my coaches and my family. You know, everybody around me in my circle. They helped me out a lot and specially my fiancee, you know, standing down with me through all those tough times, the injuries, I appreciate everybody in my corner." (0:24)

The Colorado Buffaloes will take on BYU in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. This could be the last time Hunter gears up for the Buffs before transitioning to the NFL. He is also projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL draft, alongside teammate and QB Shedeur Sanders.