Latest news with #SandyHawkinsCombs
Fox News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Travis Hunter on stranger's praise after flight interaction: 'I took care of her like I do my grandparents'
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter made a woman's day on a United Airlines flight to the point where she said she would get her sons to buy his jersey. The woman called Hunter the "nicest young man," but the second overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft tells Fox News Digital there was no act behind it. That's the type of person he is. "It was just a regular interaction. It was me being me," Hunter said over the phone while describing his experience with Sandy Hawkins Combs last week. "A nice lady sat next to me, we conversed, and made sure I took care of her like I do my grandparents or any elderly person. So yeah, that's all it was." For Combs, though, it was more than just someone being nice to her, as she wrote in a Facebook post. "I had the most wonderful flight home from Denver," she wrote. "I met the nicest young man who sat next to me. He offered to put my bag in the overhead compartment and helped me with my tray. He was always polite, saying 'yes ma'am' or 'no ma'am.' Anyone would be proud to have him as a son or grandson – so polite," Combs said of Hunter. "People walking by were saying congratulations, great job, or even taking pictures. I turned and asked him, 'Who am I sitting next to?' I looked at his Jaguar pants, smiled, and asked, 'Are you an athlete?' He smiled and said, 'I'm Travis. Yes, I was drafted by the Jags.' I already told my sons I want his jersey." After hearing about that last bit from Combs, Hunter called it a "blessing" that she wanted to support him after the one interaction. "I didn't expect nothing to go into the media, but it was just me being me," he said. Despite it being "regular" for Hunter, the Colorado star has been dealing with spotlight for many years now. It will only continue to grow at the NFL level, especially considering his draft stock and how the Jaguars have already set the bar high for the two-way player. Hunter knows, though, that being humble plays a big role in his life, on and off the field. "Humbleness is how I got here, so that's all I know," he said. "Be humble and just put in the work. Keep my head down and grind." ONE OF ONE As Hunter continues to put in work, he's also excited for an important milestone in his early career – seeing himself on an NFL trading card for the first time. Hunter partnered with Panini America, along with several other incoming rookies, where they will receive their first Panini NFL trading cards at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. "Just super excited to see myself on my own card, so it's definitely a blessing," he said. One day, Hunter's rookie card could be worth quite the pretty penny, but he understands it's up to him to make that happen. "I don't know," he said when asked how much he would pay for his rookie card. "I still got to put in some work." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
National Post
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
Woman reacts adorably after unknowingly sitting next to ‘nicest young man' Travis Hunter on flight
A woman has gone viral after telling the sweet story of her seatmate on a recent flight — who just happened to be Travis Hunter, the second pick of the NFL Draft last month. Article content Article content Sandy Hawkins Combs was on a United Airlines flight last week when she began chatting with the man sitting next to her. Article content 'I met the nicest young man who sat next to me,' she continued. 'He offered to put my bag in the overhead compartment and helped me with my tray.' Article content She added: 'He was always polite, saying 'yes ma'am' or 'no ma'am.' Anyone would be proud to have him as a son or grandson — so polite.' Article content But then Combs began to realize it wasn't just any nice young man sitting beside her as she recounted how 'people walking by were saying, 'Congratulations, great job,' or even taking pictures,' and it dawned on her that he must be famous. Article content Combs detailed that he smiled back and said, 'I'm Travis. Yes, I was drafted by the Jags.' Article content View this post on Instagram A post shared by Travis Hunter (@db3_tip) Article content Article content I had the most wonderful flight home from Denver. I met the nicest young man who sat next to me. He offered to put my... Posted by Sandy Hawkins Combs on Saturday, May 10, 2025
Fox News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Unsuspecting mother flattered by 'nicest young man' Travis Hunter on flight: 'I want his jersey'
A woman was given the surprise of a lifetime when Travis Hunter sat next to her on a plane – except she had no idea who Hunter even was. Hunter, of course, is the two-way football star who turned his skills into a Heisman Trophy and became the second pick of the NFL Draft last month. But, Hunter was on a United flight last week when he sat next to Sandy Hawkins Combs, who was flattered by Hunter. "I had the most wonderful flight home from Denver. I met the nicest young man who sat next to me. He offered to put my bag in the overhead compartment and helped me with my tray. He was always polite, saying 'yes ma'am' or 'no ma'am.' Anyone would be proud to have him as a son or grandson – so polite," Combs said of Hunter in a Facebook post. At this point, though, Combs still had no idea who this stranger was. But then, other passengers started noticing him. "People walking by were saying congratulations, great job, or even taking pictures. I turned and asked him, 'Who am I sitting next to?' I looked at his Jaguar pants, smiled, and asked, 'Are you an athlete?' He smiled and said, 'I'm Travis. Yes, I was drafted by the Jags.' I already told my sons I want his jersey," Combs continued. "He's so humble and down-to-earth – I would have never guessed he was a professional athlete. JACKSONVILLE JAGS, you did good! I will be buying tickets. United Airlines, thank you for my seat assignment!" The Jaguars selected Hunter after trading up from No. 5. The Cleveland Browns originally held the second pick, and took on Jacksonville's 2026 first-rounder in the process. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jaguars' Travis Hunter gains a new fan on recent flight
On Travis Hunter's way to Jacksonville Jaguars' rookie minicamp, he made a new fan along the way. Sandy Hawkins Combs was sitting next to Hunter on a flight and shared her interaction on social media with this year's No. 2 overall pick. Advertisement "I had the most wonderful flight home from Denver," she wrote. "I met the nicest young man who sat next to me. He offered to put my bag in the overhead compartment and helped me with my tray. He was always polite, saying 'yes ma'am' or 'no ma'am.' Anyone would be proud to have him as a son or grandson—so polite. "People walking by were saying congratulations, great job, or even taking pictures," she added. "I turned and asked him, 'Who am I sitting next to?' I looked at his Jaguar pants, smiled, and asked, 'Are you an athlete?' He smiled and said, 'I'm Travis. Yes, I was drafted by the Jags.' I already told my sons I want his jersey. He's so humble and down-to-earth—I would have never guessed he was a professional athlete. JACKSONVILLE JAGS, you did good! I will be buying tickets. United Airlines, thank you for my seat assignment!" On the practice field during the two days of rookie minicamp, Hunter took all of his reps on offense at wide receiver. As head coach Liam Coen mentioned, Hunter has already begun learning the terminology to play on defense, and will begin taking reps on that side of the ball next week. This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars' Travis Hunter gains a new fan on recent flight
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NFL Draft Pick Travis Hunter Goes Viral for Behavior on Flight
Jacksonville Jaguars top draft pick Travis Hunter made his mark on a fellow passenger during a cross-country flight. Jacksonville traded up to draft Hunter second overall back on April 24. The two-way University of Colorado star has already been turning heads at Jacksonville's rookie minicamp. Advertisement Hunter also left an impression on a woman named Sandy Hawkins Combs, who was seated next to the soon-to-be 22-year-old on a recent flight leaving Denver. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Hawkins Combs detailed her encounter with the first round draftee. "I had the most wonderful flight home from Denver," Hawkins Combs wrote. "I met the nicest young man who sat next to me. He offered to put my bag in the overhead compartment and helped me with my tray. He was always polite, saying 'yes ma'am' or 'no ma'am.' Anyone would be proud to have him as a son or grandson—so polite." Hawkins Combs shared a selfie she took with Hunter in the post, including some other info about their trip together. "People walking by were saying congratulations, great job, or even taking pictures," she noted. "I turned and asked him, 'Who am I sitting next to?' I looked at his Jaguar pants, smiled, and asked, 'Are you an athlete?' He smiled and said, 'I'm Travis. Yes, I was drafted by the Jags.' I already told my sons I want his jersey. Advertisement "He's so humble and down-to-earth—I would have never guessed he was a professional athlete. JACKSONVILLE JAGS, you did good! I will be buying tickets. "United Airlines, thank you for my seat assignment!" Hunter's on-field exploits are well-documented, but he was also an outstanding student during his time at Colorado and Jackson State. Prior to the NFL Draft, he told reporters his final college GPA wound up a "3.7 or 3.9." It sounds like he's just as impressive in public with fans, based off his time spent with his United Airlines seat mate. Well done, Travis.
