NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans drafted receiver Corey Davis to make an impact, and he's worked to do that during his rookie season.
There's no mistaking what kind of impact Davis has made in the life Travis Van. And in turn, Van has touched Davis as well.
Van, who has Down syndrome, received a No.84 Western Michigan jersey with "Davis" on the back on Christmas day. In a video posted on social media, an emotional Van gets excited when he unwraps the package, before pulling out the jersey, and kissing it.
"Thank you Santa Claus!," Van screamed in the video, which had been liked over 3,000 times on Twitter by Friday.
Davis saw the video, and got emotional himself.
"Wow," Davis said. "That is what it is all about right there. Seeing that, that is better than money, any paycheck. Putting a smile on someone's face just by seeing your name and number on a jersey, there is nothing like it.
"I saw it, and it touched me. It really touched me."
Davis responded to the video, posted by Hunter Van, saying he'd like to sign the jersey.
"I love the reaction, made my day!," Davis said in response. "Let's get it signed for him."
But the team's fifth overall pick has taken it to another level.
Travis Van, who is 26, is scheduled to fly to Nashville this weekend with his family, thanks to Davis and the Titans. He'll be accompanied by his parents, and younger brother, Hunter.
The Van family is scheduled to attend the team's walkthrough at Saint Thomas Sports Park on Saturday, and Sunday's game against the Jaguars at Nissan Stadium. Not only will Van get his Western Michigan jersey signed, he'll also receive a signed Titans jersey with the No.84, and the name "Davis", on the back.
Mom Julie Van said the response has been amazing. The family is from Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Western Michigan University is located.
"Travis loves football, and he has just connected himself with Corey," Julie Van said. "That's the jersey he wanted, and that's all he ever talks about. … Travis knows Corey plays for the Titans now, so whenever the Titans are on, he is always looking for Corey on the field."
Julie Van said she's not sure Travis and Corey ever met previously when Corey was in school, but said there's a chance the two could have crossed paths when Travis was on campus for Special Olympic events, when Corey was present.
"Corey is a very kind person, and Travis can see that," she said. "Travis watched him play, and when he saw him, he fell for Corey. He's his biggest fan."
Julie said her youngest son Hunter took the video because he knew how excited Travis would get. Hunter Van posted the video on Twitter (@Htvan8) on Christmas night.
No one expected the response on social media, or to be contacted by the Titans. Nate Bain, social media manager for the Titans, reached out to the family via Twitter about getting Travis a Titans jersey. From there, the Titans, Davis and his sports agency (CAA) have worked with the family to coordinate the weekend trip.
"It is just good to see everybody who has watched the video loved it, and made them happy," Julie Van said. "And that is Travis every day – he's happy, loves life and loves football.
"I don't know if he understand the magnitude of what's happening. But he is still fired up, believe me. He wears the jersey all the time. He loves Corey, and he loves his jersey. It's all really special."
