Why Travis Hunter’s Marriage Is About More Than Love

Travis Hunter is making headlines again—and this time, it’s not for his lockdown coverage or jaw-dropping catches. Just weeks after being drafted No. 2 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the former Colorado Buffaloes two-way phenom is preparing for another major life commitment: marriage.

Hunter is marrying his longtime girlfriend, Leanna Lenee, this weekend in Tennessee. And while some critics argue he’s rushing into it, those close to him insist it’s a deeply intentional move—one rooted not in impulse, but in identity.

“This isn’t just about love. It’s about stability,” said Jeff Barnes, host of the Smoke Somethin, Drink Somethin podcast. “He grew up without it. Now that he has it, he’s protecting it like he does the end zone.”

Born into financial instability, with an incarcerated father and a childhood marked by constant moves, Hunter has always sought solid ground. Leanna, who’s been by his side since 2022, has provided that—standing with him through his Heisman-winning campaign, his Draft Day moment, and the emotional rollercoaster of going pro.

Critics have pointed to the short engagement—just over a year—and even Leanna’s controversial past. But none of it seems to faze the 21-year-old phenom.

“She gives him the one thing he values more than anything: emotional consistency,” Barnes explained. “He plays his best football when she’s around. That’s not a theory—it’s how he operates.”