Travis Hunter has received public support from his Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders after deleting his Instagram amid ongoing criticism of his fiancée Leanna Lenee.
Sanders spoke to the media Monday evening ahead of the Buffaloes’ bowl game on Saturday against BYU.
Attention inevitably turned to its star player and Heisman Trophy winner, whose relationship with Lenee was ridiculed due to several viral moments between the two.
“Everything is great, he has the Heisman Trophy in the cradle,” Sanders said, before hinting at his potential as a future NFL player.
‘It is expected that he will be the first or second choice, and no later than the third. I don’t know where all this bulljunk comes from. I think it’s all a blessing, the things that you might consider stress are still a blessing.
‘I think he’s going 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 in front of you.
Travis Hunter photographed the 2024 Heisman Trophy victory in New York
Hunter deleted Instagram over the weekend due to continued mockery of fiancée Leanna Lenee
I wanted to ask Coach Prime how Travis Hunter is doing.
“Everything’s great, he’s got the Heisman Trophy by the cradle…I don’t know where the bulljunk comes in…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
“I love this young man, I love what he stands for. I love him like a son. He has exceeded everything we asked of him, both academically and athletically.”
In the aftermath of his team’s 52-0 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in late November, he and Lenee appeared to have an argument as he returned to the field. She even seemed to turn her face away when he went to kiss her.
When the 21-year-old won the Heisman Trophy last week, Lenee was criticized for her subdued reaction as he celebrated.
In a separate incident, 23-year-old Lenee also appeared displeased with Hunter for posing for photos with female fans.
Before his account disappeared on Sunday, fans even speculated whether Lenee had been faithful to Hunter during their relationship.
After his Instagram page disappeared, his Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders – coach Deoin’s son – spoke out in his support on to withdraw.
“Right now y’all are just posting for the algorithm to look cool.”
Hunter and the Buffaloes play BYU on Saturday night at the Alamodome in Texas.