“I feel great. I feel good right now. I had a fun time with the recruiting process but it’s stressful. I’m glad it came to the end and I picked the right school.”
Davis joined at least three other area football standouts during National Signing Day to ante up for Big Ten football: Miamisburg offensive lineman Josh Myers (Ohio State), Piqua linebacker Darien Clemons (Michigan State) and Springboro kicker Charlie Kuhbander (Northwestern). Davis also was among six Wildcats teammates to sign.
The week-long signing period for football and soccer runs through Tuesday. The early signing period for basketball and all other sports was last November.
Regarded as a four-star recruit (on a five-star scale), Davis chose to pursue football at the next level after also weighing many basketball offers. Unlike most high-level recruits, he did not verbally commit in either football or basketball, which fueled speculation on which sport he would pursue. He said he sided with football after his junior year, but didn’t publicly say so.
Among those to find out his intention Wednesday was Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst, whom Davis promised to call “in a couple minutes.”
“Of course I love basketball and football,” Davis said. “Everybody has basketball dreams. I’m a 6-2 guard and there’s a bunch of 6-2 guards. I have a different mentality in football. I love to compete against people. That’s what I love to do.”
Listed at 6 feet 3, 190 pounds, Davis is a rare four-year starter in football and basketball, providing an immediate high-profile impact. He also was among the most versatile football players in the Greater Western Ohio Conference.
As a senior he rushed for 1,195 yards (7.0 average) and scored seven touchdowns. He also had 22 receptions for 559 yards (25.4) and another six scores. He returned 14 punts for 194 yards (13.9) and scored once. He also was an accomplished kickoff returner, totaling 309 yards (22.1) on 14 returns.
Defensively, he toggled between the secondary and a roving monster back, wherever needed.
Davis was named the GWOC National East Division offensive player of the year as a senior. Springfield (7-4) lost a first-round Division I playoff game at Pickerington Central and was runner-up to Wayne in the division. He'll play receiver for the Badgers.
“He’s a special kid,” gushed Springfield coach Maurice Douglass, who built the Wildcats’ offense around Davis after he left Trotwood-Madison for Springfield in 2014. “He’s one of the most humble guys you’d ever meet. If you saw him in the hallway you’d never know he has 30-some offers because he doesn’t carry himself that way. He’s a worker and he’s been a pleasure to coach the last three years.”
Davis has been named All-Ohio in both football and basketball. He’s led Springfield basketball in scoring the last three seasons and is averaging 19.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.2 steals as a senior for the Wildcats (13-2).
• A knee injury wiped out most of Darien Clemons’ senior season at Piqua. Michigan State will be a recipient of what might have been for the Indians last fall.
The multi-skilled prospect signed a binding national letter of intent during Wednesday’s ceremony among teammates and friends at the high school. Also signing were senior Piqua teammates Nate Monnin (Kent State) and Tristen Cox (Elon).
Clemons excelled as a running back, linebacker and defensive lineman at Piqua for coach Bill Nees. He had already verbally committed to MSU when he suffered a season-ending ACL knee injury in a Week 2 loss at Trotwood-Madison last season. The Spartans honored their commitment to Clemons.
“I was out there screaming and yelling just like one of the coaches,” Clemons said. “It was a learning experience and I’m definitely going to come back stronger than what I was.”
A rugged 6-2, 218 pounds, Clemons is expected to play defense at the next level. He said MSU coaches have discussed him as a hybrid safety/linebacker and even as a down lineman. He said he’ll be fully recovered by summer camp.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
As a junior Clemons was among the GWOC leading rushers, gaining 1,664 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns. He was the GWOC North Division offensive player of the year that season. He’ll be the first Piqua player to sign with a Big Ten program since running back and Mr. Football Brandon Saine signed with Ohio State after carrying Piqua to the 2006 D-II state championship.
A 6-5, 249-pound tight end, Monnin had 11 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns as a senior. Cox, 6-4, 308, will likely play defensive tackle at Elon (N.C.). All three seniors were two-way players for Piqua, which was 7-3 last season and narrowly missed qualifying for the Division III playoffs.
“Since my freshman year Coach Nees has gotten me ready for this,” Clemons said. “Piqua is a good program and coach Nees helps his players out. Coach Nees does it straight from his heart for the love of his players. I can’t thank him enough for all he’s done for me in this recruiting process.”
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
• It was a quick trip home for Myers on Wednesday morning. He moved into his OSU dormitory in Columbus less than a month ago.
Myers was one of four Vikings to sign national letters of intent to play college football. The top-ranked player in the state and among the most coveted linemen in the nation, Myers was one of nine OSU recruits to enroll in school early.
“(Signing) means everything to me,” Myers said. “I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment and it feels good to have it over with and get on with the next stage in my life.”
That next stage is a bit hectic. The day started with a mandatory 7 a.m. weightlifting session on campus, followed by the trip home for a signing ceremony at the high school at 10:30. After signing some documents and posing for some quick photos, it was back in the car to return to campus for an early-afternoon class.
Myers has embraced the switch to college freshman.
“Some people might think I was a big man on campus here, but up there I’m just another dude walking around,” he said. “There’s not a single person that cares and that’s kind of nice.”
• The U.S. Air Force Academy was the only one of five service academies to appoint nominations to area players. Kyle Roshong (Alter) and Vince Sanford (Hamilton) signed to play football. Roselen Rotello (Lebanon) will play soccer at the Colorado Springs, Colo., academy.
• Dayton had three area football signees: Cameren Alber (Brookville), Brandon Easterling (Fairborn) and Nate Obringer (Lebanon). Christian Wright (Springboro) was the only area player to sign with Wright State soccer.
• None of the 20 Miami football signees are from the area, which might be a first. Only four are from Ohio.
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