By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – This is not the same Jared Davis directing the Tennessee Tech offense as the guy with the same name, the same size and the same number at the quarterback spot a year ago.
Well, actually it is the same guy. But this Jared Davis appears more-than-ready to direct the Golden Eagle offense in his junior season. This Jared Davis is more comfortable, more confident, and much better prepared for what's coming at him.
"Jared has made great progress since last year," says Golden Eagle coach Watson Brown, who knows a thing or two about quarterbacks. "He's a whole lot better. He's more confident. He's making good decisions, and he's handling bad plays better. He has grown up."
That's great news for Brown's squad, which opens the 2015 season next week (Sept. 5) at the University of Houston. With a roster seemingly stuffed with talent, this Jared Davis can simply direct the attack.
He doesn't need to be the attack. His nickname will not be "Save Us Davis."
"I feel like I have to take on less myself," Davis said. "In high school, we had some playmakers, but not nearly the depth we have here now. I'm not the one who has to do it. I just have to put these guys in position to make plays. I'm not the first option as far as moving the ball. These guys will do plenty of that."
That's exactly the lesson that Brown has been teaching, and it has stuck.
"He (Davis) understands that he will make mistakes, but he has a better team around him," Brown said. "The offensive line will protect him much better and he has really skilled players around him. He understands that all he needs to do is get them the ball and turn them loose. He doesn't have to try to be the hero, and it's made a drastic improvement in his play."
Last season, Davis opened the year as the starter but relentless pressure – thanks in large part to the loss of every tight end on the roster -- kept him on the run against an impossible slate of opponents early in the year. He eventually yielded the position to Darian Stone, and played a supporting role over the second half of the schedule.
Stone is gone, and Davis emerged in the spring as the starter. Working behind a much-improved offensive line and some healthy, stout tight ends, Davis looked sharp in the spring. He continued to impress this fall.
"His biggest asset is that he's sharp. He knows his stuff," Brown said of the junior from Tullahoma High School. "He's 6-foot-4, he has all the quarterback tools. He's not missing any of the tools he needs to become a special kind of player. He picks up stuff quickly and he doesn't need a thousand reps to do it right."
Brown, who has embarked upon his 43rd season as a collegiate coach and 31st as a college head coach, has molded dozens of quarterbacks, and he's doing the same with Davis.
"All of my career, our offenses have been quarterback-oriented. Our quarterbacks have needed to be sharp and read things, and Jared fits that," Brown said.
The list of outstanding quarterbacks who matured under Brown's watchful eye include such standouts as Eric Jones at Vanderbilt, Sleepy Robinson at Mississippi State, Cale Gundy at Oklahoma, Darrell Hackney at UAB, Whit Taylor at Vanderbilt, and Troy Bodine at Cincinnati. In his time at Tech, Brown has coached Lee Sweeney and Tre Lamb, who share most of the school's passing records.
Brown's influence has allowed the Davis to continue to develop into a leader on the Golden Eagle roster.
"I feel that my leadership abilities have definitely improved during this camp," Davis said. "I come out here every day ready to go, and I just try to play with consistency. It's helping my leadership by doing those things. It's been a lot different during this fall camp than in the spring. This is the most spirited, enthusiastic I've seen this team since I've been here."
An upgraded offensive line, including three newcomers in starting roles, lends optimism to Davis' outlook.
"I trust them," he says. "A lot of guys have put in an enormous amount of work in the summer to improve. They've lifted weights in the off-season, they've lost 30 pounds if they needed to lose and they've gained 20 pounds if they needed to gain. They've all gained tremendously in their strength and their quickness.
"And it's across the board," Davis continued. "Every offensive lineman has improved tremendously. From the starting five to the first group coming in, they're bigger, stronger, faster, meaner."
Another factor that allows Davis to look forward with delight is the receivers who he will target. Krys Cates and Jordan Smith, two players projected to play key roles in 2014, are back after missing the entire season with injuries. Also back is Brock McCoin, an explosive offensive weapon who earned a spot on the OVC all-newcomer team.
"They're deep, tall and fast," Davis said. "We've got two or three deep at the outside positions, and moving at the pace we're going, we can sub in-and-out and we don't lose anything."
"Krys and Jordan are back this year. They're playmakers. Steve Wilson is a playmaker. And now we've got some freshmen who are really looking like they can play. People like Austin Hicks and Darrius Stafford. They are really coming on for us and will be vying for positions," Davis said.
"Inside, we have Brock (McCoin). At the 'H' position we have Dametris (Watson). I really like the receivers we have," he said.
No, this is not the same Jared Davis as last year, and with his maturity and growth I the pocket, the Golden Eagles don't appear to be the same team they were a year ago, either.
