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They showed their affection for him in July when they named him to the preseason All-GSC team.
Davenport, a Baldwyn native entering his third year as a starter, appreciates the attention but has his sights set higher.
“Preseason all-conference, that’s good, but I really want to lead our conference in interceptions and make Division II All-America,” Davenport said.
Those are lofty goals for a player with meager production in 2009. Davenport appeared in seven games, starting six. He had 20 tackles, broke up four passes and picked off one.
Last year’s GSC leader, Josh Jones of Harding, had eight interceptions. Davenport wasn’t even in the top 10 of passes defended.
“You just have to scratch off last year,” DSU coach Ron Roberts said. “He was not the player he was able to be.”
Roberts hopes to see more of the other Davenport Saturday when the No. 24-ranked Statesmen open the season at Jackson State.
Davenport gets a pass for 2009, because the coach and the player have both seen the other side of his production.
Two years ago Davenport, an all-state player who compiled almost 4,000 all-purpose yards, 41 touchdowns and 24 interceptions for Jimmy Dillinger’s teams, acclimated quickly to college football. He started all 12 games and was named the GSC’s Freshman of the Year after totaling 48 tackles, three interceptions and 11 pass break-ups.
The sophomore jinx hit Davenport not because he lost a step or a mental edge but because he sprained both ankles, first one then the other.
“They hurt him all year. Even when he was healthy he wasn’t at full-speed,” Roberts said.
In fact, the ankles aren’t completely healed now, but “they’re as good as they’re going to be,” says Davenport, and that’s good enough to allow him to run, cut and do the things he needs to do on the field.
Athletes on the field
Davenport has been a good fit for Roberts’ defensive style. The Statesmen will show multiple looks, but at times they’ll be in a 3-3-5.
Coaches who favor at gambling style of defense at times are drawn to the system that allows a fifth defensive back on the field.
“It lets us put the most athletes on the field who can run and play fast,” Roberts said.
Says Davenport: “I like it, because it puts us in position to make plays. I do a lot of blitzing. I’m up in the box, but I cover a lot too.”
A handful of Division I transfers should give the Statesmen more depth on both offense and defense as they try to rebound from a 5-5 record. The 2009 season accounted for more than half of Roberts’ losses at DSU where he’s entering his fourth year.
Delta was 4-4 and tied for fifth in the GSC.
Roberts is optimistic that his team will show improvement and that Davenport will be one of the spark plugs – and can possibly have an All-American season.
“He’s got the ability. If he can stay healthy and continue to progress he’s quite capable of doing that.”
Delta State schedule
Sept. 4 at Jackson State 4 p.m.
Sept. 9 Arkansas Tech 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Valdosta St. 1 p.m.
Sept. 25 Henderson St. 6 p.m.
Sept. 25 West Alabama 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Ark-Monticello 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 Harding (HC) 4 p.m.
Oct. 23 at West Georgia Noon
Oct. 28 North Alabama 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 at Ouachita Baptist 1 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Lambuth 1 p.m.
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