Troy’s Davis making most of second chance

By Drew Champlin

Published: November 11, 2008

TROY — Two years ago, Andrew Davis was a budding star on the football field.

Off it, it was a different story. Davis, now a junior wide receiver for Troy, nearly saw his career come to an end because he couldn’t make the grade.

“He was immature in a lot of areas — school, life in general,” offensive coordinator Neal Brown said.

Davis walked on to Troy and started a few games his true freshman year in 2006. He was good enough that he was awarded a scholarship after just two semesters, while most walk-ons have to wait until they’ve been at Troy for four semesters.

But his scholarship hinged on one thing — him bringing his grades back up. Davis admitted his high school tenure was spent hanging out with the wrong crowd and spending too much time in the middle of family problems.

“I didn’t like being in the middle of everything,” Davis said. “I was always a middle man, having to message people back and forth. It always led to arguments, and I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.”

Davis caught 18 passes for 130 yards and two scores his freshman year, but as good as he was on the field — he was perhaps Troy’s fastest receiver — he was as bad in the classroom. A subpar performance his first semester put him on academic probation. He improved a little bit, but not much, his second semester, and was suspended briefly.

“I had to get a letter signed by all the deans,” Davis said. “I had to tell them that if they put me back in school that I’d prove myself. They were going on my word and reapplied me. Most people probably don’t know about that.

“I was more mad at myself because I know I’m capable of doing it, I just didn’t have the time or work ethic. I hated going to study hall because I felt like they made me go.”

Davis took two classes that summer (2007) and made A’s in both of them. The sport/fitness management major was then awarded an athletic scholarship.
He pushed his grade point average past 2.5 that fall, and made a 3.0 in the spring.

Dedication, Determination, Discipline, Devotion

Those four words appear on his chest as one of three tattoos. It’s something he’s applied to his life in and out of sports. Not many wanted to take a chance on a 5-foot-9 athlete in football, but he thought his calling would be in baseball, where he helped Pelham to a Class 6A state title as a sophomore in 2004.

There, he earned the nickname “Hero” from teammates on the junior varsity team the year before. That’s part of his second tattoo. His other tattoo symbolizes his Irish heritage.

“They gave me that nickname because they said I saved their season,” Davis said. “I was going 4-for-4 every time and having an unbelievable year.”

As he evolved in his baseball career, no one noticed. He didn’t get any interest from big schools, and wasn’t interested in the junior college route. Tony Franklin, Troy’s former offensive coordinator who installed his system at Pelham, offered Davis the chance to walk-on.

His size may have been a factor with some schools, but not with Davis and Troy.

“Never in my mind did I want to go JUCO, Division II or NAIA,” Davis said. “I wanted a big school all the way. I look at other athletes around the country that are just my size as well, so if they can do it then I can do it.”

Moving to the Y-receiver (inside) spot helped him find his niche, as he broke out with a 5-catch, 101-yard performance against Western Kentucky.

Included in that performance was a 58-yard touchdown reception from Levi Brown, his roommate, on the third play of the game. It was Davis’ fifth career touchdown, but first at home.

“That was definitely my first reception where I turned the heat on,” Davis said. “It felt good to make a few plays and get a few cheers in the crowd.”

He caught the crossing pattern from Brown and burned the defense. Since his arrival, Jerrel Jernigan has supplanted him (and perhaps the rest of the Sun Belt) as the fastest receiver.

“I would say,” head coach Larry Blakeney said. “They’d all argue with me, but just guessing I’d say Chip Reeves may be faster. Cruiser (Gerald Tate) will tell you he is, but he ain’t.

“Andrew’s right behind Jerrel, right in there with Chip. I’m not sure how fast (Josh) Jarboe and those guys who will play next year are.”