SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – Trayvis Hunter says New York City was a nice place to visit, but he wouldn’t want to live there.
“Too compact. I need a little space,” said Hunter, Effingham County’s speedy 5-foot-8, 145-pound receiving threat who makes highlight plays in the open field.
Trayvis is the younger brother of Travis Hunter — a Heisman Trophy winner and the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Travis will make his NFL debut Sunday at 1 p.m. in Jacksonville against the Carolina Panthers, and Trayvis plans to be there.
“I should be going to his first game,” Trayvis said. “I know he’s going to try to get to some of my games, too.”
Making his name
Sometimes Trayvis needs space from the swirl of questions about his older brother.
“People ask what it’s like to be Travis’ brother? I answer, we live together, it’s normal,” he said.
They both wear No. 12, with names separated by a “Y,” but they seem to be polar opposites. Trayvis, five years younger, is reserved; Travis is flamboyant.
“Trayvis is quiet, but he’s cool. He stays humble. He’s our brother, our teammate, that’s it,” Rebels teammate Isaiah “Zeke” Brown said.
Trayvis is making a name as the Rebels’ go-to wide receiver. He caught 36 passes for 496 yards and six touchdowns (all six in the final five games of the regular season) last year and opened 2025 with three TD catches against Richmond Hill in the spring game.
“He’s hard to stay with. He’s fast, shifty,” said Jmere Doe-Davis, a running back who sees time at defensive back and occasionally covers Trayvis in practice.
A junior, Trayvis leads ECHS with five catches for 61 yards and a score after the first two games this season. His 23-yard reception started the Rebels’ fourth-quarter, game-winning drive against New Hampstead.
“He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands. We try to get him the ball, for sure,” ECHS coach John Ford said.
Travis’ shadow, Trayvis’ path
Trayvis and his family moved into the Effingham school district almost two years ago from outside Atlanta. Travis starred at Collins Hill High School and eventually joined coach Deion Sanders at Jackson State University.
Travis followed Sanders to the University of Colorado, where his unique skills as a two-way player — wide receiver and cornerback — drew national acclaim.
And Travis, who was making $2.4 million in name, image and likeness money in college, according to Bleacher Report, bought his family a house.
Outside of carrying books in a backpack with the words “Colorado Buffaloes,” Trayvis remains casual about the family fame.
He has offers from Georgia Southern and Appalachian State, along with interest from smaller schools.
“He carries himself as Trayvis. He’s a great young man, works hard. He’s competitive. I love him,” Ford said.
“I try my best to be myself,” Trayvis said.
The difference between the two brothers?
“I’m faster,” Trayvis said.
Would Travis admit that?
“Yeah,” Trayvis answered, smiling as he munched on pizza after practice.
Brotherly bond
Travis attended a Rebels practice last season during Colorado’s off week, and players lined up for photos.
“It was cool,” Brown said.
Trayvis was in New York City for his brother’s big night, when Travis brought home college football’s biggest honor — the Heisman Trophy. That was cool, too.
For now, the Hunter brothers are chasing big dreams on different fields — one under the Friday night lights in Springfield, the other on Sunday afternoons in the NFL.
