Tampa's Own Davis Proud to Serve USF, Community
November 27, 2014 | Football
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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, NOV. 27, 2014 – Andre Davis is a Bull that will never be forgotten when it comes to USF Football and the record-breaking receiver will never forget being able to do it all in the place he's always called home.
The proud Tampa native has gotten his hands on 13 program milestones and the player nicknamed “Freak Show” is honored to be able to play his final collegiate game Friday against UCF at Raymond James Stadium.
“It's meant a lot to be able to stay home and play for the city of Tampa,” Davis said. “Family could come to the game whenever they wanted to and so could a lot of my old high school coaches and people from high school. It was really nice.”
Davis' path to USF started at nearby Jefferson High School, where he became a three-time all-state selection and helped his team capture the Class 3A state championship in 2010. Aside from achievements, Davis won't forget the leadership qualities he gained at Jefferson that quickly carried over to his career as a Bull.
“In high school I was the team captain and a guy that got everybody going. When things weren't going our way I was a guy that said, 'Don't worry about it. We're be alright,'” Davis said. “Just that positivity helped turn things around and it's been the same way here.”
Davis has helped put USF back on the path to success and he's given Bulls fan a lot to cheer about in the process. His program records include receiving yards (2,079), career receptions (147), career touchdown catches (17), single-season receiving yards (735), career 100-yard games (6) and consecutive games with a catch (38).
“The records are definitely a great accomplishment after being able to come to a school and break basically all the receiving records,” he said. “I'm appreciative for my teammates helping me reach those milestones. Guys on the offensive line, and my past quarterbacks, they helped me get there.”
Head coach Willie Taggart has loved watching Davis make every last grab the past two years and said Davis is a prime of example of the players he wants at USF.
“That's what we want to build this program around, passionate people from this community that care,” Taggart said. “To me, that's what's going to make this program special and that's what's going to take us to where everybody wants us to be.”
The football field hasn't been the only place Davis has left his mark. The fourth-generation Tampa native has dedicated his time to giving back to his hometown and he spent the summer volunteering at his old stomping grounds - Loretta Ingraham Recreation Center – where he served as a recreation leader up to five times a week.
“It's definitely been important for me to give back to my community because this is the community that helped me come up and helped raise me,” he said. “I felt like I could pass what I know onto younger kids that want to go to college and play sports and things like that. The girls and boys, they look up to me, so I wanted to be that role model for them. They can see me and know they can know they can do the same thing.”
Davis certainly has made the most of his college opportunity at USF. He'll graduate with a communications degree in December and hopes to start his own business one day after his playing career is completed. After Friday's clash with UCF, his next mission will be preparing for the NFL Draft.
“I just thank God that I had the opportunity to prepare to get to that next level. It's going to be a fun and thrilling one. I'm going to take it all in, enjoy the process and do whatever I can to make it happen,” Davis said. “It hits my mind sometimes being that I might be able to play for the Tampa Bay Bucs or play against the Tampa Bay Bucs on the field I played on for four years.”
Davis' football resume will be packed with perks for pro teams and his highlight reel full of eye-catching plays will feature game-winning moments USF fans won't forget. Among the greatest hits are Davis' 56-yard TD catch that won it for USF at Nevada in 2012 and two more entered the mix this season. Davis found the end zone three times in the second half of USF's historic 20-point comeback win at Tulsa and his 4-yard TD reception meant the difference in the Bulls' win at SMU.
Davis had made all of his 147 catches with the same mentality that has taken him to end zones across the country.
“First and foremost I have it made up in my mind that it's going to be my ball or it's going to be an incomplete pass,” he said. “If I feel like I can get my hands on a pass I'm going to do my best to catch it. If not, nobody is going to catch it.”
Davis also credits his father Andre Davis Sr., a former football and basketball player at Jefferson, for showing him the way to making clutch plays.
“At a young age my dad taught me how to catch the ball with my hands, so I've trusted in my hands throughout my life,” he said.
Davis will have more than 30 family members and friends in the stands for Friday's game and Senior Day will be bittersweet for every fan of No. 7 when he shakes hands with the crowd for the final time as a Bull.
“Every time I see Dre I smile, so my favorite moment is every time I see him, knowing that he's around and he's on our team,” Taggart said.
Watch Davis and USF's other 19 seniors go out in style by purchasing tickets Friday's game HERE.
The USF Football program is in its 18th season and 15th at the FBS level. The Bulls have made six bowl appearances, including every season between 2005-10, and have four bowl game victories. USF has produced 14 All-America selections, 23 NFL Draft picks and reached the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Poll in 2007.
USF is currently taking football season ticket deposits by calling 1-800-GoBulls, or in person at the Ticket Sales and Service Center in the Sun Dome administrative offices (Gate B).
