PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Derrick Davis was a freshman in high school the first time he played at Acrisure Stadium. He had a pair of interceptions, one sealed a win and an eventual trip to the state championship. Back in Pittsburgh, and now settled at a new position, he feels like he’s in high school again.
A four-star recruit out of Gateway, Davis started his career at LSU. An outstanding defensive back and running back in high school, the Tigers moved him to safety. He was switched back to running back during last season and eventually switched out of LSU, transferring to Pitt.
Now after going through a full Pitt Spring practice and a full week of training camp, he feels like he’s back to being a potential impact player in Division 1.
“I feel really good right now,” Davis said Thursday. “It’s coming back natural. I feel like I’m in high school again. That’s really that feeling I wanted. I was still choppy with my steps in the Spring, but now it’s full speed, hitting the hole when I wanted to hit it. It all feels good now.”
He’s playing all out without having to think about where he needs to be. Davis said he couldn’t be in this position by himself, noting he understands the playbook thanks to the three veterans in the running back room-C’Bo Flemister, Rodney Hammond and Daniel Carter. He said that four-headed monster will cause issues for opponents this year.
“I see it before the ball is even snapped,” Davis said. “I know where I’m going. I know where the line is supposed to be at. I know where the defense is going to be at. What gap they are hitting. Where I need to be at. Where I got to adjust. Before the Spring I didn’t know none of that. So for me to pick it up so quickly, it says a lot.”
Davis put up some crazy numbers with the Gateway Gators. He finished his high school career just 102 yards shy of the prestigious 4,000-yard plateau, adding 1,448 receiving yards with 77 total touchdowns and was an Under Armour All-American. All the big schools wanted him as a freshman, along with LSU-Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, USC and more offered. Now he’s back home where he said it’s good to be in his backyard. He enjoys being around fellow WPIAL competitors and feels a positive energy. He believes he’s part of something special.
“It’s just great,” Davis said Thursday. “It’s a wonderful feeling. Not thinking as much. It’s almost like studying for a test, you go into that test knowing what you know. That you know everything, you are going to ace it. That’s how I feel out there.”
That first exam is barely over three weeks away.